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Article: Military testing fuel cell hybrid Class 8 truck.(Technology Of Clean air)
- Article from:
- Diesel Progress North American Edition
- Article date:
- February 1, 2005
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 Diesel & Gas Turbine Publications. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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In a program funded by the U.S. Army's National Automotive Center, Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has partnered with SunLine Transit Agency to develop a fuel cell hybrid-electric Class 8 truck. Under the multiphase program, the vehicle has been equipped with a 20 kW fuel cell which acts as an APU, electrifying traditionally engine-driven components within the vehicle. Not only do the fuel cells reduce engine load, allowing a smaller 330 hp engine to be installed, but they are expected to increase overall vehicle fuel efficiency.
"We're trying to really improve fuel economy," explained Alan Montemayor, principal engineer on the SwRI truck project. "We're ...