Keith Pennington of Pennington Gas Service test drove the hybrid Freightliner Business Class M2e in March 2008 and was surprised by the results. As one of the company’s partners, Pennington pushed his fellow partners to invest in hybrid trucks to replace older trucks in their fleet. Pennington Gas Service will be able to serve customers in Indiana, Ohio and Michigan with its newly delivery Freightliner Business Class M2e, a collaboration between Daimler Trucks North America and Eaton Corporation.
The Freightliner M2e is Daimler’s first foray into hazardous materials handling but will likely not be the last given the vehicle’s eco-friendly bona fides. The truck uses a hybrid electric drive train built by Eaton Corporation and a tanker truck frame developed by Daimler imprint Freightliner. Daimler Truck representatives project the first Freightliner M2e will reduce Pennington’s fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions by 30%. These savings will be achieved through the use of electric-only power during engine startups and the option to switch from diesel-only to hybrid power on long hauls.
Freightliner goes beyond Daimler North America’s scant press release on the website linked here. The Business Class M2e features a regenerative braking system that captures up to 70% of energy produced during frequent slowdowns and stops. The Electric Power Take-Off system (ePTO) is designed to power hydraulic lifts, tools and other equipment attached to the truck using its electric motor. Daimler North America and Eaton Corporation worked with Telogis to install fleet monitoring software, allowing researchers to keep track of drive train performance in Pennington’s trucks.
The Freightliner Business Class M2e is yet another example of a hybrid vehicle built for an important niche market. Pennington Gas Service is following in the footsteps of Duke Energy, AT&T and other businesses in their commitment to reducing fuel consumption. Freightliner’s claim that a Business Class M2e can save an owner 1,500 gallons of fuel over the life of the vehicle shows the pragmatic argument to be made for hybrid vehicles. While businesses love getting good press for investing in sustainable transportation and equipment, the ultimate reason for these investments is money saved by using less fuel. If that is the argument needed to remove diesel-guzzling trucks from the road, we should hope that automakers press this point vigorously over the next decade and create technology to match the hype.
