It's Still Garbage, But At Least It's a Hybrid!
by Andrew Posner, Providence, Rhode Island 
on 04. 8.08
Hybrid garbage trucks are a lot like solar powered trash compactors: namely, somewhat ironic. Still, the fact of the matter is that garbage trucks are big, heavy and, for the foreseeable future, going to continue hauling our garbage away (never mind that, as William McDonough often points out, away has "gone away"). These trucks almost always run on diesel and, aside from their greenhouse gas implications, also contribute to poor air quality in communities. Seattle has begun addressing the emissions from their garbage truck fleet by using ultra-low sulphur diesel and a B20 blend of biodiesel, as well as by retrofitting the trucks to improve emissions controls.
Now Volvo has gotten into the hybrid craze by launching "two hybrid refuse trucks into trials in regular daily operations in Sweden." More on how they work after the fold.
The truck will feature a "7-liter (320 hp / 238 kW) diesel [engine] with a 120 kW motor" and will make use of lithium-ion batteries. Here's how it all works:
The hybrid system supports all-electric drive for moving off from standstill and for acceleration up to 20 kph (12 mph). At higher speeds, the diesel engine is activated. When the truck stops, the diesel engine automatically switches off, avoiding unnecessary idling. The batteries are recharged via regenerative braking.The hybrid refuse trucks are expected to reduce fuel consumption by up to 20% and thus cut carbon dioxide emissions by a corresponding amount. The truck with the extra battery pack for the refuse compactor is expected to produce reductions of up to 30%.
Not bad. And besides, there's no reason why a hybrid dump truck can't also be used as a hybrid recycling truck.
Via: ::GreenCarCongress
See Also: ::Is Clean Diesel the Way to Go?, ::Diesel Hybrid Pickup Coming to the U.S., ::Mercedes-Benz to Produce Hybrid with Lithium Ion Battery, ::Hyundai to Mass-Produce Hybrids in 2009, Starting with Elantra Hybrid, ::Volkswagen to Introduce 70 MPG Diesel-Electric Hybrid Golf, and ::The TH Interview: Allen Schaeffer, Diesel Technology Forum Executive Director
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Here in sweden in my town we already have Mercedes biofuel-garbage trucks wich runs on the same garbage they collect. And refuel from our local biofuel-plant
I can imagine garbage truck fueled by garbage, something like Mr. Fusion in Back to the Future trilogy :-)
haha, maybe we can get to Mr. Fusion one day with our biodegradable garbage.
This truck is great, I hope the trials work out well
This is great...
except if we would just dispose of less trash, we could run fewer trucks... or they would carry less weight.... seems like the first thing we should be doing.
That said, its not Volvo's job to have regular folk create less trash, so kudos Volvo keep it up.
Ironic yes, but surely a step in the right direction. ZAP's plugin hybrid vehicles have been shown to give 120 miles per gallon when test driven and give you the option of converting your regular car to a plug in hybrid as well!
Sorry i meant to say converting your regular hybrid car to a plug in hybrid as well
It's not quite city-sponsored garbage pickup, but there is a junk disposal service in my area called Junk General that uses B100 (in the warmer months) in all their trucks, and (while I never was able to schedule a time to do it) sells bio to other bio-diesel enthusiasts in the area.
There are devices which convert garbage into fuel. One is Startech Environmental Corp and the other is Global Resource Corp.
Dave S, your comment lacks relevance. Lemme guess... you work for Zap?
As far as hybrids go, diesel hybrids are more efficient that gasoline hybrids and certainly more efficient than standard diesel engines when it comes to vehicles with heavy loads that stop and go often. Diesel engines run most efficiently when moving heavy loads at a constant speed. On the other hand, electric engines are great at accelerating (as well as shutting off while coasting to a stop),which is very energy intensive for a diesel engine. Combine the two, and you get one heck of a pair!!
It's about time, this makes a lot of sense considering the way garbage trucks operate. Moved only a few yards a time it's a perfect application for a hybrid.
No irony - only smart steps toward sustainability. Hybrid design makes every trip more efficient, and solar compactors reduce the number of required trips (the cleanest gallon of fuel is the gallon you don't burn at all -- by avoiding trips). The compactors are like "carpooling for garbage." We also need to buy less stuff, throw away less stuff, reuse/compost/recycle, make things out of recycled and biodegradable material, etc. All good and necessary. But these two technologies are examples of things that can be implemented now, and make an immediate difference. Glad to see them out in the real world, and if the trucks can run on bio-fuel, and/or ultra low sulfur fuel with particle traps and SCR (catalytic converters), all the better!
Looks like a good start. But why not stick a Capstone Micro Turbine Generator, one piece one moving part. They can run on Nat Gas, 1/3 the price of diesel or better yet Methane from the land fill, both emitting little or no emissions.Turbine's are very quite and you would only hear the compactor.Use Valence batteries which have been proven in bus applications and you have a real winner.
Let's get this party started!
Lou Capozzoli
Looks like a good start. But why not stick a Capstone Micro Turbine Generator, one piece one moving part. They can run on Nat Gas, 1/3 the price of diesel or better yet Methane from the land fill, both emitting little or no emissions.Turbine's are very quite and you would only hear the compactor.Use Valence batteries which have been proven in bus applications and you have a real winner.
Let's get this party started!
Lou Capozzoli
this is really interesting,you see cars and motor bikes being hybrids,but know even trash picking garbage truck,wowo this is great,a step in the right direction,thats for sure