HTUF's Commercial Construction Equipment Users Forum's focus has shifted recently to hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric demonstration projects, says program manager Steve Sokolsky. Goals overlap on most: save fuel, save money and reduce emissions, all while increasing performance. Below, check out some details regarding equipment testing for backhoes, wheel loaders and more in real world conditions.

Initial Demo: Hydraulic System Efficiency Improvement

• Goal is to achieve 25% fuel savings
• Retrofit standard backhoe loader w/ Eaton’s digital valve (smart valve) technology
• Collecting data & verifying savings
• Project Period: 12/10 to 11/11
• Project Partners: Eaton, U.S. Army/TARDEC, U.S. Navy

New Demo: Hybrid Wheel Loader Demonstration

• Goals are to achieve 30% fuel savings, 40% GHG  30% NOx & 40% PM reductions
• Plug-in parallel hybrid design; dairy application
• Terex TL 210 loader, 4.5L Tier 4 engine, 100 hp permanent magnet motor, 10 kWhr Li-Ion battery
• Status: SJVAPCD award 12/10, work starts Summer 2011
• Partners: Terex, U.S. Hybrid, SJVAPCD, Maddox Dairy

Hybrid-Electric Bulldozer – Data Collection, Evaluation and Verification

• Goals are to verify expected 25% fuel savings, 10% increase in productivity
• CAT D7E diesel-electric track-type bulldozer with down-sized 9.3L engine
• Conventional D7R to be tested at the same time as baseline
• Partners: U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, Caterpillar

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