FEV Teams with EPA on Clean Ports Project
FEV announced the second application of a hydraulic hybrid powertrain system in conjunction with a project led by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Port Authorities of New York and New Jersey. The project incorporates an EPA-patented hydraulic hybrid propulsion system into terminal tractors used in moving freight containers in port terminals. The hydraulic hybrid system was first used in an in-service UPS truck, which was displayed in the FEV exhibit at the 2007 SAE World Congress. Two prototype tractors will be introduced into service in the Ports of New York and New Jersey, operated by A.P. Moller Terminals.FEV will serve as the sole engineering contractor to the EPA for the project, providing systems-level integration support in addition to its role of designing, fabricating and integrating the hydraulic hybrid powertrain. The hydraulic hybrid system stores kinetic energy captured during braking. This high regenerative efficiency is more than twice that of other hybrid technologies and translates into significant fuel economy improvements. The hydraulic hybrid technology replaces the torque converter and conventional transmission, and allows an engine operating mode that is independent of speed. This allows the engine to be used most efficiently, and even turned off during stops, slow speed cruising and during deceleration, when stored hydraulic energy can be utilized. Hydraulic hybrid technology can increase fuel efficiency by 60 - 70 percent, and lowers greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent.