Eaton launches production of medium duty truck hybrid systems

Eaton Corporation has launched production of their new hybrid drive powertrain for medium trucks. Several hundred of the units will be built this year for installation starting in 2008 by truck makers like International, Peterbilt, Kenworth and others. Over 220 trucks have been produced over the last several years for field testing that has accumulated more two million on road miles.
The Eaton system is a parallel hybrid architecture that has an electric motor/generator mounted between the automated clutch unit and the transmission. The system is designed to work on diesel-powered trucks and includes regenerative braking capability. Hopefully we will start seeing these systems widely adopted on vehicles like school buses, garbage trucks and other vehicles that have an extensive stop and go duty cycle.

[Source: Eaton]

Share This Photo X