Hybrid Wheel Loader Delivers 50% Fuel Efficiency Gain

S. Himmelstein | July 13, 2017

A hybrid wheel loader from Volvo Construction Equipment has posted a 50% gain in fuel efficiency. The (Source: Volvo Construction Equipment)prototype had been operated and tested at a California landfill by Waste Management Inc.

The LX1 series hybrid incorporates a driveline that consists of electric drive motors mounted at the wheels, electric-driven hydraulics, a battery energy storage system, a significantly smaller diesel engine (3-liter vs. 13-liter) and new machine architecture. The engine used 100% renewable diesel, resulting in reduced greenhouse gas emissions, supplied by Golden Gate Petroleum.

This advanced technology development and testing program was funded by the California Energy Commission's Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program. CALSTART, a non-profit clean transportation technology industry organization, conducted independent testing of the prototype and confirmed the 50% improvement in fuel efficiency on average.

Discussion – 1 comment

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Re: Hybrid Wheel Loader Delivers 50% Fuel Efficiency Gain

tcmtech

2017-Jul-13 11:59 AM

I'm not really sure where the boasting point is on this being most of the newer Tier 3 and Tier 4 heavy commercial equipment when redone with aftermarket/blackmarket reprogram systems to shut down their emissions crap constantly show similar fuel usage numbers which to be honest tend to fall in the same fuel usage per unit of measure that most decent no non emissions equipment of equal capacity already have and largely have had for years.

So what exactly is the boasting point of having taken a solid reible machine design, made it use 50% more fuel, then made it more complicated, less user serviceable, less reliable and far more costly to purchase and own just to get back to fuel consumption numbers that were the common standard before anything was messed with?