Great article on Green, hybridized motion technology using electric and hydraulic solutions

Hybrids in Motion Electric, hydraulic hybrids boost efficiency in different types of vehicles Al Presher, Contributing Editor — Design News, June 15, 2009

Green, hybridized motion technology using electric and hydraulic solutions is poised to deliver increasing levels of immediate impact in commercial vehicles. What remains to be seen is how hybrid production ramps up in the next 12 months, and how effectively engineering investments pay off on targets of 30-50 percent fuel savings.

With programs for hybrid-electric power systems, along with both parallel and series hybrid hydraulic systems, Eaton Corp. is matching the technical advantages of differing hybrid technologies with the needs and specific duty cycles of buses, delivery and refuse trucks.

The hybrid electric vehicle program (HEV) has taken the lead in terms of deployment, accumulating a total of 10 million miles of operation, most notably among customers such as FedEx, UPS and Coca-Cola. According to Kevin Beaty, business unit manager of Hybrid Power Systems for Eaton, total usage is ramping up with the program now accumulating 600-700,000 miles per month, and projections of a possible million miles a month by the end of the year.

Read the article here: http://www.designnews.com/article/279122-Hybrids_in_Motion.php