Wal-Mart To Help Develop Hybrid Truck

Last updated Thursday, January 11, 2007 6:37 PM CST in Business

By Anita French
The Morning News

    Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is teaming up with ArvinMeritor, an auto component supplier, to develop a diesel-electric hybrid truck that may be the first of its kind in North America.

    The companies said in a news release this week they had agreed to develop a dual-mode, diesel-electric drivetrain for a class 8 truck, called the "workhorse of the U.S. long-distance trucking industry" by ArvinMeritor.

    "We've been working on development of hybrid drivetrains for some time," said Carsten J. Reinhardt, president of ArvinMeritor's Commercial Vehicle Systems business, in the news release. "This class 8 project is a major step in our continuing work in alternative drivetrain development -- both for power transmission and emissions -- and holds tremendous promise for the worldwide heavy-duty trucking market in a number of important environmental and economic ways."

    Wal-Mart President and CEO Lee Scott said last year that doubling the fuel efficiency of the company's fleet of trucks was part of the company's new environmental program. Wal-Mart spokesman Dave Tovar said Thursday that the company is hoping the hybrid truck will help achieve that goal.

    "Obviously, this is going to take some time, and there will be commercial applications for (the hybrid truck) beyond Wal-Mart. But the announcement put out by ArvinMeritor is strictly about the development of this new drive train," and there is no timetable as yet, Tovar said.

    Wal-Mart has 7,000 trucks in its fleet, he said.

    The diesel-electric hybrid truck prototype being developed by Wal-Mart and ArvinMeritor offers zero emissions and fossil fuel consumption, according to the news release.

    "ArvinMeritor is a leader in all areas of drivetrain and brake system development for heavy-duty commercial vehicles and is an ideal partner for Wal-Mart for the development of this dual-mode diesel-electric systems," said Tim Yatsko, senior vice president-transportation for Wal-Mart," in the news release.

    Dual-mode diesel-electric drivetrains use the electric motor drive primarily for periods of high demand under low-speed, high-load operating conditions, such as accelerating from a stop, the release said. Once moving, the mechanical propulsion system begins to blend its power with the electric motor until it reaches highway speeds, where the drive phases to completely mechanical. The electrical system can provide additional power during hill climbing, even at highway speeds.

    In addition to its work at highway speeds, the engine also charges an onboard energy storage system, which provides power to the electric motor when demand is high. Energy that is generated during braking is captured and stored using regenerative braking.

    Reader Comments (12 comment(s))


    The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsibility of their authors. The Morning News does not review comments before their publication, nor do we guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by our comment policy. If you see a comment that violates our policy, please notify the web editor.

    Jerico wrote on Jan 11, 2007 8:49 PM:

    " Being as large as Wal-Mart is makes it a threat to all things smaller. It makes it a favorite target of Unions and the political left who owe the unions. However, it also makes it powerful enough to affect change on its own. Using Bio-diesel and electric motors totally eliminates fossil fuel requirements for its fleet of 7000 tractors. Because Wal-Mart is willing to take the lead, this new ground will be broken faster and the new technology will be available to everyone. A million Mom and Pop stores, a dozen union bosses and all the political left could not get it done. "

    Gas guzzler wrote on Jan 12, 2007 8:14 AM:

    " Great Idea. Now Wal-Mart needs to take the next step and co-develop a consumer vehicle that burns alcohol. They could sell the cars through their retail stores, and market the fuel nationwide in their gas stations. OH... but wait, that would be a totally new idea, and they would be the frontrunner. I guess it will have to wait until someone else does it, THEN Wal-Mart can copy it! Lee Scott complains that high gas prices are hurting his sales. He needs to take a step to fix it. "

    fuel guzzler wrote on Jan 12, 2007 2:27 PM:

    " I think they already have cars that can run on alcohol, at least mostly alcohol. It's called E85 running in flex-fuel vehicles. If more of it was available to the east and west coasts, it would help. It currently is in the midwest, but not at all gas stations. Given that no one else is that far into converting large trucks to hybrid is a great step forward as are the electronic emission controls being used on current diesel only trucks. "

    Lee keep spending wrote on Jan 13, 2007 4:27 PM:

    " that money on nonsense. Why don't you take the cap off of the employee's wages. How about not trying to push out the long term employees, because and I quote "they are costing the company money". How about lifting the orders to only hire part time people, because now we don't have to give them the crappy insurance and the benefits that we have to give to full timers. Hey Lee, just how do you feel knowing that it's just around the corner that Wal-Mart will be union? Ooooppssss, that's one of the associates' flights.Let that cat out of the bag. "

    jjmc2006 wrote on Jan 14, 2007 8:42 AM:

    " Wal-mart is showing ability that GM and Ford have missed. It's time to open this area to more possibilities and thosae that can get the job done. A fresh perspective outside the transportation industry may be whats needed. GM and ford may have too many buddy accounts/suppliers that don't want to lose orders so their insiders discourage any change. "

    Walmart sells low grade wrote on Jan 15, 2007 1:59 AM:

    " and low quality merchandise anyway. Are they gonna cut corners when the trucks are built? What third world country will make the trucks? Could it be that after the employees from the sweat shop finish making the clothes they will go next door to finish their 13 hour day and work on the trucks? "

    gas guzzler wrote on Jan 15, 2007 9:52 AM:

    " pay me more money, take the caps off our wages, give me give me give me. What a bunch of whiney, short sighted idiots... if you don't like your pay and benifits, go work somewhere else, and quit crying. Wal Mart is spending all of it's time fighting off its own employees that have joined forces with the outside interests, when they and their "devoted" employees should be focused on making the country better. The United States has a needle in its arm, and the needle is pumping in oil. It's time to pull that needle out, and figure out how to be more self supporting. Wal-Mart has that ability if they would focus on it. All of you employees need to keep crying about your wages, and you'll end up like the US auto workers... "

    TDS wrote on Jan 19, 2007 7:02 AM:

    " Don't be fooled into thinking that Wal-Mart suddenly became interested in helping the world deal with it's environmental and fossil fuel dependence issues. It is finances that run this company, and financially this is brilliant. Typical big trucks get 3-5 MPG and thats on the highway. By developing and building a hybrid transport truck,even after investment costs of development, they stand to save milions in cheeper fuel costs if it works. "

    hithere wrote on Jan 20, 2007 12:29 AM:

    " That's right, it will save Wal-Mart money (if it works) and it will help save the environment. Win win situation. People often don't realize that the two often go hand in hand. "

    He likes it! wrote on Jan 21, 2007 1:31 PM:

    " Does anyone edit articles any more? The diesel-electric hybrid truck prototype being developed by Wal-Mart and ArvinMeritor offers zero emissions and fossil fuel consumption, according to the news release. Wow offers fossil fuel consumption! Ain't that sumthin! Once moving, the mechanical propulsion system begins to blend its power with the electric motor until it reaches highway speeds, where the drive phases to completely mechanical. What was the propulsion before it was mechanical? Oh I see it was mechanical propulsion before it phased to mechanical! "

    hoot wrote on Feb 3, 2007 6:48 PM:

    " Well it may not be perfect but its a step in the right direction. Hopefully someday they will figure out how to make all the vehicles fully electric and self sufficient without fossil fuels or having to plug them in every 40 miles. The technology is there it just needs more innovation and refinement. It was just a matter of time before they started looking into the big trucks since they use so much fuel. I hope the aircraft manufactures figure something out as well. Those poor guys average less than 1 mile per gallon. Talk about a fuel hog! The problem is it is going to take a collective effort from the entire country to weed ourselves off of imported oil. No one company no matter how large and deep their pockets are is going to solve this countries problems. The government can help by subsidising research as long as it will benefit us all and not just a chosen few. But the fact remains we all need to do our part to use less energy. That's my take anyway. Qudos to Wal-Mart for taking a big step forward to help America. At least on this issue. "

    uh huh wrote on Feb 4, 2007 1:16 PM:

    " There is a big difference between saying you are going to do something, and actually doing it. Remember when Wal-Mart used an ad campaign about pushing items made in America? Later, they spent lots of money telling everyone what great medical benefits their employees have. Now, are they going to start spending millions telling us what a wonderful job they are doing for the environment? Seems like the Waltons took a page out of the Republicans' play book - don't worry about what you do, just be sure you get a lot of publicity telling people what you are(n't) going to do. What person in their right mind would be against better vehicles, or better health care, or keeping Americans working? Now if only Walmart would spend as much money on advancing this adgenda as they do on publicising it. "


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