Series Diesel-Electric Hybrid Drive Saves Class 8 Truckers 35% in Fuel Costs
Axion Power International, Inc. announced today that they will utilize an Indiana venue to display their PbC battery, and its use in an electric hybrid Class 8 truck developed by ePower Engine Systems LLC. The truck will be powered by a 56 battery array and will be available to a wide variety of drivers and truck fleet owners through a 'Ride and/ Drive' program set up at the Indiana Green Fleet Conference on September 23-25 in Elizabeth, Indiana.
The electric hybrid 18-wheelers have been retrofitted, from standard internal combustion engines, to series diesel electric hybrid drive train systems that include a string of 56 PbC batteries by privately held, Florence, KY-based ePower Engine Systems. The PbC batteries have been selected for the 18-wheel Class 8 truck conversions because of their high cycle life; their unique high charge acceptance capability; their ability to discharge and recharge quickly and their inherent self-equalization characteristic that is particularly advantageous to large string applications.
Diesel fuel is the largest variable cost in trucking, with Class 8 trucks alone consuming more than 19 billion gallons of diesel fuel annually, noted Axion Power Chairman and CEO Tom Granville. It is estimated that the ePower hybrid system, utilizing PbC batteries, will be able to reduce fuel consumption by some 35% going forward.
"There is considerable enthusiasm being generated for this hybrid heavy-duty truck because of the fuel savings and emission improvements it is demonstrating during test drives," said Granville. "The entire trucking industry is looking for new ways to save on fuel costs as well as control harmful emissions and we believe we have the system and the unique battery technology to assist them on both fronts. We look forward to meeting the drivers and owners of truck fleets and putting them behind the wheel of the ePower hybrid truck employing our PbC batteries. The 'system' continues to perform well in road test drives of both short and long duration."
Vani Dantam, Axion's Senior Vice President of Business Development, Sales and Marketing will explain the application to delegates at the Green Fleet Conference and detail how the hybrid system, incorporating Axion PbC batteries, dramatically increases obtainable 'miles per gallon' in normal heavy duty truck operating environments. Mr. Dantam will also serve as moderator for the Transportation section of the Conference.
