UPS truck w/ 2-cylinder range extender engine feeding lithium batteries = 4X MPG

[kristopher]

UPS Adding Another 200 Hybrid Delivery Vehicles
by Andy Szal

The parcel giant announced that the trucks will be deployed, beginning in January, in Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Nevada, Texas and potentially additional states.

UPS previously announced the purchase of 125 of the 2-cylinder engine, E-GENTM chassis trucks, manufactured by Workhorse Group, earlier this year.

"We are committed to developing alternative fuel vehicles that lessen our impact on the environment and reliance on petroleum based fuels," said senior vice president for global engineering and sustainability Mark Wallace. "That effort is helping to transform markets and communities."

?itok=LVDKu7ja
(Image credit: UPS)

The trucks, which are powered with help from lithium ion batteries and range extender engines, boast about four times the fuel economy of a conventional truck....

http://www.manufacturing.net/news/2016/10/ups-adding-200-hybrid-delivery-vehicles


It seems there is another billion dollar battery factory in the works - this one for "solid-state batteries".

British Vacuum Company Dyson Reportedly Plans Electric Car

<snip>
Dyson planned to invest $1 billion in a new battery plant in the wake of its $90 million purchase of Sakti3, an Ann Arbor-based company that developed new solid-state battery technology.

Solid-state batteries, unlike conventional lithium-ion batteries, will not overheat and do not require expensive fire safety features. They could also last far longer and charge in a matter of minutes.
<snip>
Although the new batteries are likely at least 10 years removed from hitting showrooms, experts believe they could eventually prove decisive to the widespread adoption of electric vehicles. Numerous other automakers, suppliers and tech companies are also working on similar technology.

One expert, however, predicted that Dyson could eventually challenge Tesla Motors, whose forthcoming mass-market electric vehicle is expected to exceed 215 miles of range on a single charge. A solid-state battery could extend that range to 350 miles....

http://www.mbtmag.com/news/2016/05/british-vacuum-company-reportedly-plans-electric-car?cmpid=verticalcontent

[PoliticAverse]

1. "Although the new batteries are likely at least 10 years removed from hitting showrooms" n/t

[kristopher]

3. Glad you caught the point of the two posts

#1 shows where we are and #2 hints at where we are headed.

[NickB79]

2. Sounds like the method used by the Chevy Volt

A small engine capable of recharging the battery pack on the fly when you need to go more than the 40-mile EV only range.

A used Chevy Volt is on my short list to replace my 2005 Scion xA subcompact (though that car still has many years and miles of life left, it's built very well).

[kristopher]

4. I like the series hybrid design also.

I wasn't aware it was being used in trucks.

[caraher]

6. I'm very happy with the 2013 Volt I bought in June

In the previous two months before I took a 600-mile round-trip I used 4 gallons of gas total. On that trip I was well above 40 MPG with the gas engine, and as an unexpected bonus, in a town where finding a parking place can be an adventure, I had what was in effect a reserved parking space in the municipal lot - I had to feed the parking meter like everyone else but the charging itself was free. (I was probably a little bit lucky, but I'll take it!).

Without going too crazy on "hypermiling" but knowing how to use the driving modes, it's not hard to exceed the specs for efficiency. I've gone as far as 47 miles on a charge; 43 is typical. My biggest concern about the car is the lack of a spare (it has an inflation kit with a charge of leak-plugging goop that may or may not work, depending on the puncture); my understanding is that is growing common among cars marketed for high fuel efficiency as a spare is heavy.

[caraher]

5. Apparently they've already been using "hydraulic hybrids"

The battery part is new with these vehicles. But apparently some previous trucks recovered energy when braking to a hydraulic system!

Specs on the new trucks from the manufacturer (and details from an older story)

Range (from plug): 60 Miles
Extended Range: 90 Miles
Total Range: 150 Miles
Battery Pack:60 kWh
Gross Vehicle Weight: 19,500 lbs
Available Wheelbases: 157 & 178
Top Speed: 67 mph (Electronically Limited)
Motor Power: 268 hp
Motor Torque: 1620 ft*lbs

[Massacure]

7. I used to work for a transportation company

Fuel is the second largest expense, trailing only behind labor. They were buying 500-600 million gallons of diesel per year and I remember how they mentioned that if they could even squeeze out only an extra 1/10 of a mile per gallon, it would add 20-30 million dollars to the company's bottom line.