Hydraulic hybrids? UPS orders a few

Fluid and air pumps capture energy lost in braking, saving fuel

ATLANTA – By now we’ve all heard of hybrid vehicles, but there’s a lesser known variation: hydraulic hybrids, or HHVs. The technology delivers significant reductions in fuel use and pollution, and delivery giant UPS Inc. has made the first commercial purchase.

At a press conference Monday, officials with the Atlanta-based company said they will deploy two new HHVs in Minneapolis during the first quarter of next year. It will then deploy another five vehicles later in 2009 and in early 2010.

The new system replaces a truck’s transmission with hydraulics and that, combined with a low-emission diesel engine, yields a 45 to 50 percent improvement in fuel economy, according to UPS.

MSNBC