Date: January 8, 2009
Source: Mack Trucks, Inc.
Mack Delivers Hybrid TerraPro™ Refuse Truck to USAF
Mack Trucks, Inc. reached another important milestone in the development of clean and efficient trucks with the delivery of the first diesel-electric hybrid refuse truck to the US Air Force (USAF) Advanced Power Technology Office (APTO). The MACK® TerraPro™ Low Entry refuse truck was turned over to APTO at Warner Robbins Air Logistics Center at Robbins Air Force Base, Georgia, on December 12. This is the fifth hybrid truck Mack has built for the USAF, with the rest already in operation around the country.
The TerraPro hybrid has a rear loading refuse packer body and is equipped with a 325 hp US'07-compliant MACK MP7 engine. The Mack hybrid electric powertrain used in the truck features an integrated starter, alternator and motor that assists the MP7 in providing torque to the wheels and regenerates energy during braking. The energy captured during braking (stored as electricity in lithium ion batteries) is then used in place of diesel fuel and helps launch the truck from stops.
This technology provides the maximum fuel savings on routes with frequent braking and accelerations. Examples, in addition to refuse, are urban delivery and certain construction applications. The use of this hybrid system is expected to improve fuel economy by 20-30% and provide a similar benefit on greenhouse emissions, while reducing cost of maintenance.
"Mack shares the Air Force's commitment to reducing both the country's dependence on fossil fuels and imported oil as well as the impact of truck operations on the environment," said Dennis Slagle, Mack president and CEO. "The vehicles we're producing under this partnership are a key stepping stone to offering commercially viable hybrid electric vehicles to our customers."
The Mack TerraPro truck underwent extensive testing of the hybrid system prior to delivery, with several thousand accumulated miles of operation. After APTO reviews and tests the truck, they will provide it to the City of Macon, Georgia, for continued testing in their municipal waste collection operation. This testing will be part of an agreement between APTO, the City of Macon and the Clean Cities Coalition of Georgia. While there, it will generate "real life" test data, including fuel consumption and overall vehicle operation.
Dedicated to quality, reliability, and total customer satisfaction, Mack Trucks, Inc. has provided its customers with innovative transportation solutions for more than a century. Today, Mack is one of North America's largest producers of heavy-duty trucks, and MACK® vehicles are sold and serviced in more than 45 countries worldwide. All Mack manufacturing locations are certified to the internationally recognized ISO 9001 standard for quality and ISO 14001 standard for environmental management systems. Mack is also a proud sponsor of Share the Road, an American Trucking Associations' public information campaign aimed at enhancing the safety of our nation's roadways.
Mack Trucks, Inc. is part of the Volvo Group, one of the world's leading manufacturers of trucks, buses and construction equipment, drive systems for marine and industrial applications, aerospace components and services, and heavy-diesel engines (9-16 liter). The Group also provides complete solutions for financing and service. The Volvo Group, which employs about 100,000 people, has production facilities in 19 countries and sells their products in more than 180 markets. Annual sales of the Volvo Group amount to over $42 billion. The Volvo Group is a publicly-held company headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden. Volvo Shares are listed on OMX Nordic Exchange Stockholm and are traded OTC in the U.S.
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