Waste Management, the garbage-collecting giant, is adding 4 hydraulic hybrids to its Fort Worth fleet for a bit of field testing. The trucks, which were launched about 6 months ago, are from Peterbilt and use the Eaton Hydraulic Launch Assist (HLA) system to store much of the energy used in braking to help launch the vehicle forward when its time to go again. Not only can the truck reduce its fuel use up to 30 percent, according to William Jackson of Peterbilt, but the hydraulic innovation can double the life of the brakes and greatly reduce engine wear. Maintenance is not an insignificant consideration for a company that spends $500,000 a year on its fleet. Although Waste Management isn't getting any government "assistance" for the project, Peterbilt is working towards qualifying the vehicle for a federal rebate program that could reduce the cost to buyers by $12,000.

[Source: Green Car Congress / Dallas News] [Source: autobloggreen.com Read the Full Article]