Peterbilt has established a worldwide reputation for producing dump trucks, refuse trucks and other commercial vehicles that perform in difficult conditions. This well-known truck company is going green with hybrid and compressed natural gas (CNG) models in the next decade. Peterbilt presented the Model 320 Hybrid and three variants on its CNG refuse truck at the recent Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Kentucky. These models will allow waste management companies and cities to carry out a day-to-day necessity while reducing environmental impact.
The Model 320 Hybrid features the Hybrid Launch Assistance (HLA) system by Eaton. HLA captures pressurized hydraulic fluid from the brake system and stores this pressurized fluid for later use. By storing up to 75% of kinetic energy from the brakes, Peterbilt is adapting the regenerative braking concept for commercial vehicles. Model 320 drivers can start their trucks with stored energy rather than diesel by activating the “fuel economy” drive. Peterbilt cited performance improvements like 30% better fuel economy, 40% reductions in emissions and 50% reductions in brake wear during its presentation. Waste management firms are also attracted to Peterbilt’s announcement that the Model 320 Hybrid can serve up to 1,200 stops per day.
Peterbilt’s lineup of CNG-powered trucks includes the Model 320, the Model 365 and the Model 384. All three models feature Cummins ISL-G engines with a maximum output of 320 horsepower. Peterbilt also included three-way catalytic converters in each model to significantly reduce emissions. These CNG models are designed with flexibility in mind. For example, the Model 320 can be outfitted with various sizes of CNG and LNG tanks to accommodate different routes. Peterbilt’s CNG refuse trucks are ready for full production runs in the next few years though a firm date was not set for an initial run.
The Model 320 Hybrid and its CNG brethren represent both short-term and long-term solutions in the waste management field. In the short term, cities can introduce greener solutions for refuse removal while burnishing their sustainability portfolios. Peterbilt’s green truck options will slowly filter into the North American market and beyond in the next decade. The long-term benefit of the Peterbilt 320 Hybrid and the CNG lineup is that it will demonstrate the potential to make any commercial vehicle sustainable. As long as we stick with our current systems of roads and highways, we need to ditch gas guzzlers in favor of CNG, hybrid and all-electric trucks and tankers.
