GreenCar Magazine » hybrid

How Should We Handle the Recycling of Electric Batteries?

admin — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:52:35 +0000

In the UK new legislation will come into effect on January 1st ,2010 that is designed to ensure that all waste industrial and automotive batteries are recycled in the future. This legislation will see the responsibility will fall to the battery manufacturer. Producers of industrial and automotive batteries will be required to arrange the collection, treatment and recycling of such batteries, free of charge, if requested by business end-users and final holders. As the auto industry turns to electric and hybrid electric vehicle technology we can expect battery production to greatly increase. Is this a system that should be adopted by the rest of the world or is there a better model for us to consider?

Key elements of the new regulations include:

Requiring any persons placing batteries on the market to register as a producer of batteries, and report on waste batteries collected and sent for recycling;

Requirements for the treatment and recycling of waste batteries

The Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009 complement the existing Batteries and Accumulators (Placing on the Market) regulations 2008, which set out the requirements for introducing new batteries onto the market from 26 September last year.

These regulations also introduce a ban on the landfill disposal or incineration of waste industrial and automotive batteries.

Ian Lucas, Minister for Business and Regulatory Reform, said:

“These regulations are designed to complement the excellent recycling rates traditionally achieved for industrial and automotive batteries. In simple terms, business users of industrial batteries, and final holders of automotive batteries, such as garages, End-of-Life Vehicle authorised treatment facilities, and Civic Amenity site operators, will no longer be faced with the costs that may be incurred through recycling scrap batteries. These costs will now be met by the producers.”

Powertrain Innovator of the Year -Hybrid Drivetrain for Formula One

admin — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:07:20 +0000

Zytek has been working with Mercedes High Performance Engines since 2007 to develop the motor and power electronics for a hybrid drive system for Formula 1, addressing substantial challenges that include designing subsystems that will withstand the harsh thermal and mechanical environment of one of the world’s most demanding race series, that are exceptionally light, and which can be integrated within a system that does not affect the aerodynamics or handling of the car. Validation of this intensive development came when Lewis Hamilton won the Hungarian Grand Prix on in July 2009, driving a McLaren fitted with the Mercedes HPE system.

This success was mirrored in the ALMS series, for which Zytek has developed a hybrid drive system in partnership with Continental (which supplies the lithium battery pack), when Corsa Motorsports made the podium at Lime Rock (USA) with its Ginetta-Zytek GZ09HS LMP1 car.

“Turning the concept of kinetic energy recovery into a race-winning reality was a major breakthrough and Zytek made a vital contribution to this achievement,” observed Awards judge and freelance motorsport technology writer Charles Armstrong-Wilson.

Chairman of the judging panel and editor of Professional Motorsport World magazine Graham Heeps agreed: “It’s too early to know to what extent KERS will be adopted across other forms of motorsport, but the pioneering work of companies like Zytek – which also has a strong pedigree in road-car hybrid technology – will be of benefit to everyone who follows behind.”

Hybrid K-9 Units from Toyota

admin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:29:06 +0000

The Cincinnati Police Department will soon be adding a pair of Highlander Hybrid SUVs, a vehicle renowned for its fuel efficiency, power and spaciousness.

The 270-horsepower Highlanders will be converted into K-9 units, supporting bomb-sniffing dogs and counter-terrorism specialists. With the addition of these SUVs, the Cincinnati Police Department will have a total of eight Highlander Hybrids in its vehicle fleet.

Toyota has a special connection with Cincinnati’s K-9 team. A couple of years ago, the automaker helped the police department acquire and train a patrol dog. The dog, affectionately named “Tundra,” after Toyota’s full-size pickup, is considered one of the best canines of its kind in the country. In 2004, the Cincinnati Police Department hosted the 2004 United States Police Canine Regional Trials, and Toyota contributed $15,000 in support of the local competition.

“We are extremely pleased that the Cincinnati Police Department trusts our Highlander Hybrids to the point of adding two more vehicles to their fleet,” said Clyde Dyson, general manager of TMS’ Cincinnati Regional Sales Office. “Toyota has been a strong advocate of local law enforcement for many years, and we feel privileged to be helping them protect and serve the people of the greater Cincinnati area.”

In appreciation to Toyota, the Cincinnati Police Department will be conducting K-9 demonstrations for company employees at the Cincinnati Regional Sales Office on Monday, November 2. These demos are open to the Media and begin promptly at 11:30 a.m. During this event, K-9 officers will conduct simulated scenarios for dogs specially trained in bomb and drug detection and standard patrol situations. A few converted, police-owned Highlander Hybrids will also be on display.

Toyota’s Cincinnati Regional Sales Office is located at 4550 Creek Road, Cincinnati, (513) 745-7500.

About Toyota

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. is the marketing, sales, distribution and customer service arm of Toyota, Lexus and Scion. Established in 1957, TMS markets products and services through a network of more than 1,400 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers. Toyota directly employs nearly 34,000 people in the U.S. and sold more than 2.2 million vehicles in 2008. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyota.com, www.lexus.com, www.scion.com or www.toyotanewsroom.com.

Diesel Hybrid Electric Drivetrain Developed for Military Applications

admin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:42:40 +0000

Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc. has introduced a fuel efficient, high performance diesel hybrid electric powertrain, “Q-Force,” after six years of development. This advanced, proprietary 4-wheel drivetrain can be configured for specialized military as well as commercial applications.

The first application of Quantum Q-Force is in a JP-8 fuel compatible diesel engine-based, battery dominant, series-hybrid electric military Alternative Mobility Vehicle (AMV). A number of pre-production prototypes that incorporate Q-Force have been successfully developed and built for testing and evaluation by selected commands to assess mission suitability, supportability, performance objectives, and guidance on final vehicle configuration.

In one configuration, the diesel engine produces 75 horsepower, the electric motor, 133 horsepower, and the powertrain yields 5,463 foot-pounds of torque after gear reduction. Features of Q-Force include:

Sophisticated System Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, incorporating Quantum‟s proprietary algorithms

Hybrid control system that minimizes battery size through optimized charge controls and regenerative braking

Optimized engine operation/calibration and generator performance

Advanced traction motor/transmission system

Alan P. Niedzwiecki, President and CEO of Quantum said: “Our innovative diesel hybrid electric all-wheel drive system provides high performance, acceleration and extended range, resulting in significant advantages for the U.S. Army in communications, surveillance, targeting, and reconnaissance missions. We believe that Quantum’s Q-Force drivetrain is also very well-suited for commercial applications including homeland security, border patrol, park service operations, and light-duty automobiles.”

In 2008 Quantum introduced a gasoline plug-in-hybrid electric drive known as „Q-Drive‟ in the Fisker KARMA 4-door sports sedan. Fisker Automotive, a „Green American‟ car company co-founded in 2007 by Quantum and Henrik Fisker, was recently selected by the U.S. Department of Energy for a low interest loan of $528.7 million, under the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Loan Program.

About Quantum:

Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc., a fully integrated alternative energy company, is a leader in the development and production of advanced propulsion systems, energy storage technologies, and alternative fuel vehicles.

The Infiniti M35 Hybrid Ready for 2012

admin — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 04:44:54 +0000

Infiniti today confirmed that its first production hybrid vehicle will be part of the recently announced line of 2011 Infiniti M luxury performance sedans, which are scheduled to go on sale in spring 2010 at Infiniti dealers nationwide. The Infiniti M35 hybrid is expected to arrive about 12 months later as a 2012 model. It is Infiniti’s first hybrid in its 20-year existence, as well as the cleanest and most economical car in Infiniti’s history.

Realizing the high performance/low emissions promise of the recent Infiniti Essence concept car, the M35 Hybrid has been designed and engineered to add to, not take away from, the driving experience, a key part of any Infiniti’s appeal. The M35 Hybrid is based on the all-new M, which itself picks up styling cues from Essence, the show-stopper that made its debut at the Geneva Auto Show early in 2009.

The M35 Hybrid maintains a high performance luxury sedan profile, overlaying it with the fuel economy and CO2 emissions of a smaller car, while delivering driving flair to please any enthusiast – complete with charismatic V6 and rear-wheel drive handling.

Infiniti’s hybrid system, developed solely within Infiniti’s parent group, is a single electric motor/twin clutch arrangement. Innovatively, the first clutch is installed between the naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 and the electric motor. The result of this configuration, where all components act on a single prop shaft to the rear differential, is a consistent driving feel under all conditions with linear performance and the “direct responses” that the engineers sought.

The electric motor acts as both propulsion unit, boosting the V6 in “power assist” mode when maximum acceleration is required, and also as a generator. Along with charging the battery in the normal way, the motor recovers energy otherwise lost during deceleration and braking.

The M Hybrid can also run solely on its electric motor in certain driving conditions, furthering fuel efficiency and optimizing energy usage across the widest possible range of driving conditions. Details of driving range, performance and transmission will be released later.

As expected of Infiniti, several new technologies are introduced in the new M35 Hybrid, including a “laminated” lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery pack that is the same size as conventional batteries but offers twice the power. Lamination enhances the pack’s cooling performance, while temperature stability is further improved by the use of manganese positive electrodes. An end result of this is exceptional battery reliability.

The M35 Hybrid joins conventional engine-equipped 2011 M versions – including a new high-performance diesel V6 for Western Europe – as the first Ms to be sold across all of Infiniti’s world markets, currently 33 countries. All of the new-generation Infiniti M models are on target to beat their predecessors on fuel consumption and emissions – despite across-the-board performance improvements – thanks to a range of efficiency-enhancing measures.

Plug-In Hybrid Electric Cargo-Moving Tractor to be Tested

admin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:13:15 +0000

PALO ALTO, Calif. – A plug-in hybrid electric “terminal tractor” used to move shipping containers and cargo within the port will be tested at a Port of Long Beach shipping terminal. If this heavy-duty application of hybrid electric technology proves successful at Long Beach and other ports then it could replace diesel-powered tractors on a wide scale, reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and improving energy efficiency of port operations.

The Electric Power Research Institute is coordinating the project among several ports and will also compile and analyze project data related to the tractor’s performance, including emissions, charging, diesel fuel reduction and other aspects. The equipment will be tested at SSA Container Terminal on Pier A at the Port of Long Beach for 3 months.

US Hybrid Corporation converted the diesel powered vehicle, which is similar in appearance to a tractor cab, into a hybrid which has the ability to be refueled from the electric grid. As a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) the tractor will be able to move containers weighing up to 95,000 pounds as its diesel counterparts can, but unlike diesels will not idle its engine when inactive. Over a year of full-time operation it is expected that the PHEV tractor would use 3,000 gallons of fuel per year less than a similar diesel and significantly reduce emissions.

“Terminal tractors are the most prevalent piece of equipment at container ports and they typically idle 50 percent to 80 percent of the time they’re in use,” said Andra Rogers, senior project manager of Electric Transportation at EPRI. “It’s feasible that by converting their tractor fleets ports could reduce emissions from this source by 80 percent for nitrogen oxides, 50 percent for carbon dioxide and significant amounts of other criteria pollutants. These vehicles can make a big impact on lowering a port’s overall emissions.”

“One of the central directives in our Green Port Policy is the adoption of new, environmentally friendly technologies,” said Heather Tomley, Port of Long Beach Assistant Director of Environmental Planning. “We encourage private industry to develop, test and evaluate technologies such as this hybrid-electric terminal tractor.” Currently there are approximately 754 diesel tractors at the Port of Long Beach.

The three-month Port of Long Beach demonstration project is part of a one-year demonstration, during which the tractor will also be tested and evaluated at ports in Savannah, Ga., Mobile, Ala., Houston, and New York City.

EPRI will document the tractor’s performance and operation including electric grid system impact, vehicle system efficiency, emissions, costs and vehicle performance. EPRI also will evaluate performance and benefits relative to conventional diesel vehicles. The research is part of a broader program EPRI conducts on “non-road” electric applications for transportation, which includes forklifts, airport vehicles and power supply options for ships at dock, airliners at the gate and trucks at truck stops.

IC Bus HC Series Platinum Hybrid, HC Series Bronze Sure to Turn Heads at BusCon 2009

admin — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:17:07 +0000

Navistar

CHICAGO, Ill. (September 11, 2009) – IC Bus is poised to make a big impression this year at the 2009 BusCon: America’s Convention for Buses — one of the largest and most extensive industry trade shows.

BusCon participants will get a firsthand look at a number of innovative new products from IC Bus, from a 40-foot concept motorcoach to a comprehensive line-up of energy efficient hybrid buses.

“We’ve got some great products to showcase and are excited to offer one of the best product portfolios in the industry,” said John McKinney, president, IC Bus.

IC Bus HC Series Platinum Hybrid, HC Series Bronze Sure to Turn Heads

Adding to its world-class product line-up, the IC Bus™ HC Series family of vehicles will be on display. Along with a fully operational IC Bus HC Series Platinum Hybrid, an IC Bus HC Series Bronze will make its first public appearance. The HC Series Bronze commercial bus, a first from IC Bus, will provide an excellent solution for small transit operators. It is lightweight, durable and reliable, and operational costs are minimized by its hydraulic brakes, which eliminate the need for operators to have CDL (Commercial Drivers License) air brake certification. Its 19.5 inch wheels enable easy maneuverability and a tight turning radius.

Joining the HC Series Bronze, a one-of-a-kind IC Bus HC Series Platinum Hybrid is also on display. Owned by Pontarelli’s Chicago Limousine Service and wrapped with Chicago’s 2016 Olympics bid candidate city iconography, this bus celebrates the HC Series Platinum bus that was used back in the spring to provide transportation to members of the International Olympic Committee as they toured the planned sites and facilities should Chicago be awarded the 2016 Olympic games. The seats of the hybrid tour bus are top-of-the-line. A stitched cover with the IC Bus logo, accentuating the high-end interior of the HC Series Platinum, complements each seat. It’s a super-premium vehicle with five LCD video screens suspended from the ceiling and an ASA audio system.

Beyond its line-up of buses, IC Bus is also touting its own 2010 emissions technology with 2010 Advanced Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) MaxxForce 7 engine. In addition, IC Bus will also display its IC Air HVAC unit.

IC Bus 40-foot Concept Coach

The all-new 2010 IC Bus 40-foot Concept Coach is on hand for BusCon attendees to experience. Incorporating superior aerodynamics with a powerful engine, this motorcoach is destined to become the best-in-class performer for tours and regional travel. Powered by the 2010-compliant MaxxForce® DT wet-sleeve engine, capable of 285 hp and 800 lb-ft peak torque, the 40-foot Concept Coach will achieve exceptional fuel economy while turning heads.

The 40-foot Concept Coach has a variety of premium features, including non-slip Altro flooring, which ensures solid footing even when wet and is the option used in many hospital emergency rooms. The Concept Coach will also include aerodynamic mirrors, factory-engineered and installed IC Air , dual-side heating, stadium seating and a state of the art ASA audio/video system. Other luxury features include its two-tone leather seats, wireless internet, dining stations and tables and a slightly larger than average lavatory.

About IC Bus

IC Bus, LLC of Warrenville, Ill., is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navistar, Inc. (NYSE: NAV). The nation’s largest integrated manufacturer of school buses, IC Bus is a global leader in passenger protection, chassis design, engines and ergonomics. The company is also a producer of commercial buses. All IC Bus™ buses are sold, serviced and supported through a renowned dealer network that offers an integrated customer program encompassing parts, training and service. Additional information is available at www.icbus.com.

Electric Vehicle Management Software being Developed:Smart Charging 3.0

admin — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 19:22:10 +0000

GridPoint, Inc., an established leader in smart grid software, announced at this years Plug-In 2009 Conference and Exposition that it will provide its next-generation electric vehicle management software, Smart Charging 3.0, to support the largest U.S. deployment of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. GridPoint is also providing demonstrations of the product, available to utility customers in September, in booth #409.

Electric Transportation Engineering Corporation , was awarded nearly $100 million in stimulus funding last week to deploy charging infrastructure and advance the adoption of electric vehicles. GridPoint joins Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and Nissan North America as strategic partners, as well as other project participants, which can be viewed here. Together with INL, GridPoint has been working for over a year with eTec on electric vehicle performance and fast-charge systems.

GridPoint will provide smart charging and data logging capabilities to utilities in strategic markets of the eTec program in Arizona, California, Oregon, Tennessee and Washington that will support the deployment of up to 5,000 Nissan LEAF vehicles and a network of up to 12,750 charging stations. GridPoint’s charging management software will give utilities the ability to deploy load shifting, load shaping, renewables integration and demand response strategies. Advanced smart charging capabilities, such as synchronization with the availability of renewable energy, may also be explored.

To date, utility-led smart charging trials have been limited by the availability of grid-connected vehicles. The size and scope of this project creates a unique and valuable opportunity to assess and qualify:

• Effects of a mature plug-in electric vehicle environment, with and without smart charging, on multiple electrical grids;

• Benefits of smart charging on grid reliability to inform utility, PUC and regulator decision making on vehicle-related rate schedules;

• Customer satisfaction and perception of various smart charging scenarios; and

• Incentive programs to ensure maximum participation in smart charging programs

“GridPoint is delighted to participate in eTec’s groundbreaking project and applauds our country’s commitment to support the creation of an intelligent electric vehicle infrastructure,” said Peter L. Corsell, CEO, GridPoint. “Our advanced software capabilities will help utilities prepare the grid for the imminent arrival of plug-in vehicles.”

GridPoint’s smart charging software manages the flow of electricity to plug-in vehicles and charging stations, allowing utilities to balance real-time grid conditions with the needs of individual drivers. For two years, GridPoint has been building and deploying smart charging software, collecting data from hundreds of converted plug-in vehicles and gathering feedback from utility customers. Smart Charging 3.0 builds on this wealth of experience to deliver:

Forecasting and Backcasting: GridPoint has introduced forecasting capabilities for plug-in vehicle load, setting a new standard for smart charging. Based on historic behavior, Smart Charging 3.0 predicts vehicle-related load up to 24 hours in advance. This new functionality allows utilities to better plan for the impact electric transportation load will have on the grid and to proactively initiate smart charging strategies to mitigate and/or leverage that load. Additionally, Smart Charging 3.0 provides a visual display of plug-in charging impacts with and without charging management for the previous 24 hours – allowing utilities to quickly assess the effectiveness of their smart charging strategies.

Demand Response Functionality: Smart Charging 3.0 supports external demand response notification via the OpenADR standard, allowing plug-in vehicles and charging stations to stop charging during critical peak events. System users are notified of ongoing demand response events through real-time messaging that appears on GridPoint’s smart charging and data logging portals. Consumer notification via Web portal or handheld device is also enabled.

Enhanced Smart Charging Portal Design: Through the addition of intuitive functionality in the Smart Charging Portal, GridPoint has improved the ability to quickly ascertain the impact of vehicle charging load and the success of various smart charging strategies, while also providing a greater ability to drill down and explore charging behavior during a specific time of day. Enhanced functionality includes 24-hour display of historic and predicted load/generation, zoomable charts, mouse-over data detail, and real-time display of aggregated statistics of all vehicles deployed in smart charging programs.

Smart Charging 3.0 also enhances system scalability and reliability via performance optimization and increased redundancy. In response to requests from utilities and research institutions, GridPoint has expanded the software’s robust data capture to include average power factor, battery pack voltage and other advanced performance information.

For more information on GridPoint’s new electric vehicle management solution, please email smartcharging@gridpoint.com.

Ford Intelligent PHEV’s Systems Will Talk to the Nations Power Grid

admin — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:55:42 +0000

Ford

Ford Motor Company announced recently that it has developed an intelligent vehicle-to-grid communications and control system for its plug-in hybrid electric vehicles that “talks” directly with the nation’s electric grid.

This new technology – which builds on Ford’s advancements such as SYNC®, SmartGauge™ with EcoGuide and Ford Work Solutions™ – allows the vehicle operator to program when to recharge the vehicle, for how long and at what utility rate.

Ford’s PHEV Vehicle-to-Grid Communications Graphic“Electric vehicles are an important element of our strategy for improving fuel economy and reducing CO2 emissions,” said Bill Ford, Ford’s executive chairman.

“This vehicle-to-grid communication technology is an important step in the journey toward the widespread commercialization of electric vehicles.”

All 21 of Ford’s fleet of plug-in hybrid Escapes eventually will be equipped with the vehicle-to-grid communications technology. The first of the specially equipped plug-in hybrids has been delivered to American Electric Power of Columbus, Ohio. Ford’s other utility partners’ vehicles will also be equipped with the communications technology.

When plugged in, the battery systems of these specially equipped plug-in hybrids can communicate directly with the electrical grid via smart meters provided by utility companies through wireless networking. The owner uses the vehicle’s touch screen navigation interface and Ford Work Solutions in-dash computer to choose when the vehicle should recharge, for how long and at what utility rate.

For example, a vehicle owner could choose to accept a charge only during off-peak hours between midnight and 6 a.m. when electricity rates are cheaper, or when the grid is using only renewable energy such as wind or solar power.

“We are designing what plug-in hybrids and battery electric vehicles will be capable of in the future,” said Greg Frenette, manager of Ford’s Battery Electric Vehicle Applications. “Direct communication between vehicles and the grid can only be accomplished through collaboration between automakers and utility companies, which Ford and its partners are demonstrating with this technology.”

Over the past two years, Ford and its energy industry partners have logged more than 75,000 miles on the plug-in hybrid test fleet. The plug-in hybrid research focuses on four primary areas: battery technology, vehicle systems, customer usage and grid infrastructure.

“Broad commercialization of electric transportation is not something a car company can achieve on its own,” said Nancy Gioia, Ford director, Sustainable Mobility Technologies. “Developing and producing the vehicles is just one part of the electric transportation equation. We are well on our way to delivering the vehicles, but for widespread adoption the infrastructure to support the technology needs to be in place and we need to ensure that the national electric grid can support increased electric demand.”

Real-world usage and laboratory research is helping to accelerate the advancement of electrified vehicles. Ford and its research partners are now focusing on ways to make the recharging process easy and efficient for consumers. In addition to low-cost recharging at home through the use of a smart meter, Ford researchers say recharging away from home – whether at work, in a shopping mall parking lot or at a curbside station – needs to be as simple as plugging in and swiping a credit card.

Navistar First OEM to Reach 5 Million Hybrid Miles

admin — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 13:00:32 +0000

WARRENVILLE, Ill. (August 17, 2009) – The number of owners and operators of Navistar’s hybrid-powered commercial vehicles is growing as hybrid trucks and buses become more and more attractive to businesses looking to “green” their fleets and improve fuel economy.

In fact, the popularity of these hybrid vehicles has helped Navistar become the first original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to accumulate more than 5 million real-world miles in the hands of customers driving hybrid-powered International® trucks and IC Bus™ brand school and commercial buses.

“With a wide range of hybrid trucks and buses, we continue to be a leader in providing energy-saving, environmentally friendly transportation solutions,” said Jack Allen, president, Navistar’s North American truck group. “By developing clean vehicle technologies that reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, we’re able to deliver significant savings to the customer’s bottom line and, at the same time, help them reduce their overall carbon footprint.”

Extensive Line-up of Hybrid Trucks

In less than two years, Navistar has established itself as a leader in hybrid technology. In November 2007, Navistar launched the Class 6 medium-duty International® DuraStar® Hybrid, becoming the first OEM to enter assembly-line production of hybrid commercial trucks.

Building on the success of that platform, Navistar expanded its hybrid product portfolio in October 2008 with the Class 7 International DuraStar Hybrid Tractor, targeting general freight haulers and food/beverage distributors with diminishing loads. This past March, Navistar introduced the Class 7 severe service International® WorkStar® Hybrid 4×4, the industry’s first hybrid four-wheel-drive commercial truck.

Depending on the specific application and other conditions, International hybrid trucks can deliver up to 40 percent fuel savings in stop-and-go driving and pick-up/delivery operations. Beyond the fuel savings potential, the hybrid trucks produce zero emissions when auxiliary equipment (like an overhead utility bucket) operates solely on the truck’s hybrid battery power.

“The continued success of these trucks on the road demonstrates not only the reliability of hybrid technology, but also the potential for significant fuel savings and emissions improvement within real-world applications,” said George Survant, director of fleet services for Florida Power and Light and chairperson of the Hybrid Truck Users Forum (HTUF) Working Group.

Beyond Hybrid — All-Electric Delivery Vehicles

Two weeks ago, President Barack Obama traveled to Navistar’s Wakarusa, Ind., manufacturing facility to celebrate the award of a $39 million federal grant to develop and build all-electric delivery vehicles. Through this U.S. Department of Energy grant, Navistar plans to build 400 all-electric vehicles in 2010 and expects to be producing several thousand vehicles annually within a couple of years. This zero emissions all-electric delivery vehicle would primarily be used by drivers for local deliveries where stop- and-go driving would otherwise consume a large amount of fuel.

Hybrid School and Commercial Buses

In addition to its line-up of hybrid trucks and the potential for all-electric delivery trucks, Navistar affiliate, IC Bus, offers a comprehensive portfolio of hybrid-electric school and commercial buses. In February 2007, IC Bus was first to enter assembly-line production of hybrid buses. IC Bus offers a battery-powered hybrid electric system similar to that used in commercial trucks. In addition, through its supplier partnership with Enova Systems, a leading provider in hybrid drive systems, IC Bus is the first and only manufacturer of a factory-built plug-in electric hybrid vehicle. An IC Bus hybrid school bus can deliver fuel savings of up to 65 percent and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 40 percent.

For decades, Navistar has demonstrated a commitment to clean diesel technologies that benefit the environment and its customers. In 1989, Navistar was the first original equipment manufacturer to release the smokeless diesel engine and, in 2001, Navistar was the first engine manufacturer to gain certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for meeting particulate and hydrocarbon emissions standards – six years ahead of schedule.

About Navistar

Navistar International Corporation (NYSE: NAV) is a holding company whose subsidiaries and affiliates produce International® brand commercial and military trucks, MaxxForce® brand diesel engines, IC Bus™ brand school and commercial buses, Monaco RV brands of recreational vehicles, and Workhorse® brand chassis for motor homes and step vans. It also is a private-label designer and manufacturer of diesel engines for the pickup truck, van and SUV markets. The company also provides truck and diesel engine service parts. Another affiliate offers financing services.