FEV, Inc. to Show Series Hydraulic Hybrid Technology at 2009 SAE World Congress
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., April 16 /PRNewswire/ -- FEV, a leading developer of advanced powertrain and vehicle technologies, announced today that it will showcase a hydraulic hybrid propulsion system at the 2009 SAE World Congress. The hydraulic hybrid system has been integrated into a Yard Hostler, a type of vehicle used in moving freight containers in marine ports, rail yards, distribution centers and warehouses. It is the first known application of hydraulic hybrid technology to this type of vehicle.
The FEV/EPA-developed hydraulic hybrid technology is one of the worlds most efficient and cost-effective powertrain technologies, and, in EPA testing, has shown a fuel economy improvement of 60-70 percent in large urban vehicle, city use, along with a 40 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The technology is ideally suited for use in light-duty trucks, SUVs, and heavy-duty urban vehicles like city transit buses, delivery and refuse trucks.
The hydraulic hybrid system stores kinetic energy captured during braking. The high regenerative efficiency is more than twice that of other hybrid technologies, resulting in the significant fuel economy improvements. Hydraulic hybrid technology replaces the conventional transmission, and allows engine operating modes that are independent of vehicle speed. This allows the engine to be used most efficiently, and even turned off during stops, slow speed cruising and during acceleration/deceleration, when stored hydraulic energy can be utilized.
Beginning with a "clean sheet of paper," FEV designed, analyzed, conducted simulation, and fabricated the hydraulic drive unit. In addition, FEV fabricated the hydraulic systems and integrated them into the Yard Hostler. The project was performed for a partnership of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, APM Terminals, Parker-Hannifin, Kalmar Industries, R.H. Sheppard, Inc., Webasto, Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
Specific benefits of the hydraulic hybrid system include:
Fuel efficiency improvement of 50-60 percent, saving over 1,000 gallons per vehicle per year.
Reduced maintenance costs on engine, starter and brakes.
Reduced CO2 greenhouse gas emissions by 30-40 percent
About FEV, Inc.
The FEV Group is an internationally recognized powertrain and vehicle engineering company that supplies the global transportation industry. FEV offers a complete range of engineering services, providing support across the globe to customers in the design, analysis, prototyping, powertrain and transmission development, as well as vehicle integration, calibration and homologation for advanced internal combustion gasoline-, diesel-, and alternative-fueled powertrains. FEV also designs, develops and prototypes advanced vehicle/powertrain electronic control systems and hybrid-electric engine concepts that address future emission and fuel economy standards. The FEV Test Systems division is a global supplier of advanced test cell, instrumentation and test equipment. The FEV Group employs a staff of over 1,800 highly skilled specialists at advanced technical centers on three continents. FEV, Inc. employs approximately 300 personnel at FEV's North American Technical Center in Auburn Hills, MI.
