Eaton showcases its hydraulic hybrid system in Toronto

[Fledermaus]

TORONTO, Ont. -- Eaton's Hydraulic Launch Assist (HLA) hybrid system was on display in Canada for the first time recently at the City of Toronto's Green Fleet Expo.

The regenerative braking process slows the truck to 2 mph. The driver brings the truck to a complete stop by applying the brake pedal. As a result, brake life is extended at least 250%, Duray said. The system also improves fuel mileage by 20-30% by assisting the diesel engine during launches, and it allows trash collectors to pick up more bins per day thanks to the instantaneous power transfer at starts.

Even without government incentives, Duray said a payback period of three to five years is expected in refuse applications.

http://www.trucknews.com/issues/ISArticle.asp?id=85465&issue=06102008

Youtube vidio on hydraulic hybrid systems

[tinrobot]

1. I've heard of these for passenger cars as well.

A company made a replacement transmission for a BMW that does essentially the same thing.

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2008/06/artemis-intelli.html

[kristopher]

2. Apparently it is a great system for stop and go driving.

There are a lot of excellent applications for it in urban delivery.

[Fledermaus]

3. Yes, they have already built and tested it

Someone else posted about it several weeks ago. Its a real car with a hydraulic hybrid drive. It gets double the mileage in the city.

In confirmed third-party tests, the U.K. Energy Saving Trust, a grant supplier for the project, says Artemis’ prototype BMW 530i hydraulic series hybrid, outfitted with HEDDAT (High Efficiency Digital Displacement Automotive Transmission) technology performed with double the MPG in city tests (a start and stop environment) of the same car with a manual transmission.

Dr. Niall Caldwell, a senior engineer with the company since its inception in 1994, told the Cleantech Group it's difficult to compare the performance of a Artemis hydraulic transmission to the technology of an electric hybrid.

Artemis says this new hydraulic transmission technology is potentially more durable, lighter and cheaper than electric hybrids, and most vehicles will likely see substantially better fuel savings.

“We have the advantage on aggressive duty cycles, and that’s where the Prius system cannot capture and return the energy at high powers,” said Caldwell. “There’s an intrinsic technological advantage when you’re driving a vehicle hard. That’s where hydraulic hybrids have a huge advantage.”


http://media.cleantech.com/2929/artemis-hybrid-heddat-dd-digital-displacement