Which New Hybrid Has 10 Wheels and Flies?

[n2doc]

By KEN BELSON
Published: November 27, 2009
IT sounded like a garbage truck and smelled like one, too. Aside from the giant pastoral scene on its side, it even looked like a standard-issue New York City garbage truck.

But the 36-ton refuse collector that rumbled out of the Department of Sanitation’s Central Repair Shop in Queens earlier this month with a reporter on board was equipped with a diesel-electric powertrain, one of just a handful of hybrid garbage trucks being tested around the country. This one was built by Mack Trucks, which is part of the Volvo Group.

To New Yorkers who saw the big Mack drive by, the truck seemed no different from its all-diesel brethren. But with a 120-kilowatt electric motor supplementing its 6-cylinder diesel engine, the hybrid accelerated with less effort, the driver said. It stopped and idled much like a regular garbage truck; likewise, its hopper was capable of crushing and storing up to 13 tons of trash.

Other than a few extra lights on the dashboard, the interior was the same as the department’s 2,200 other garbage trucks. This was by design: the department did not want to add any complications to the hectic routines of its 6,000 trash collectors.

more:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/29/automobiles/29GARBAGE.html

[Cirque du So-What]

1. K & R

As is so often the case, a big push for progress begins with the public sector.

[baldguy]

2. Which is another reason Republicans want to kill it.

[dmallind]

3. Wuh?

Hybrids have been strong sellers to the private sector for many years. How is this beginning anything? It's a good thing for sure, but it's rather late to the party.

[Cirque du So-What]

4. With garbage trucks?

First instance of hybrid garbage trucks I've seen.

[dmallind]

5. And how many private citizens buy their own garbage trucks?

[Mopar151]

7. How many trucks does it take

To move you from "private citizen" to Faceless Corporation?
Plenty of very small haulers in the business. The trucking industry has been pursuing fuel economy/operating cost fervently since the early '50's - they deserve a lot of credit.

[OKIsItJustMe]

6. For a similar trend, check out hybrid buses

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_bus
Clearly there aren’t many individuals buying them.

However, diesel/electric hybrids are nothing new.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel-electric

Think back to your favorite WW II naval adventure. A sub's batteries could only last just so long, before the sub needed to surface to recharge them using its diesel…

The only thing new here is this particular application.

[XemaSab]

8. "According to I.B.M., a hybrid 18-wheeler can save more fuel than two dozen hybrid cars."

That's why this matters.

[dmallind]

9. Never said it didn't matter - just thought it was disingenuous

to credit the public sector for starting the progress rather than, somewhat belatedly, jumping on the bandwagon.

[donco]

10. Cool, not many hybrids have

a diesel kicker.

[kestrel91316]

11. Here in Lost Angeles we have a whole fleet of city buses and trash trucks

and street sweepers and such that run on natural gas - no more diesels. I am hoping someday for natural gas-electric hybrids, then on to biogas-electric hybrids.

[silverweb]

12. One more step.

Every step in the right direction, no matter how large or small, is a positive addition to our cumulative progress, and all such steps should be applauded and encouraged. One step leads to another... and another... and many more.

My neighbor painted his flat roof white a few days ago. Until now, my landlord has refused my requests to do the same to the flat roof on the house I rent. Since he is friends with this neighbor, I am more hopeful that now he will allow the change.

All most people need is a little encouragement and/or company in making positive change -- and companies and governments are, after all, run by people.