Oshkosh Unveils Fuel-Saving Hybrid Drive Refuse Vehicle

Nov. 17, 2006
Oshkosh Truck Corp announced that the company is presenting its proprietary ProPulse hybrid drive technology in a refuse vehicle application at the 2006 Hybrid Truck Users Forum

Oshkosh Truck Corp announced that the company is presenting its proprietary ProPulse hybrid drive technology in a refuse vehicle application at the 2006 Hybrid Truck Users Forum (HTUF) during the 6th National HTUF meeting being held in San Diego, California.

The ProPulse hybrid drive system helps the engine to operate at the optimum operating point for required energy demand, providing increased fuel economy, reduced emissions, lower life cycle costs and lower interior and exterior noise profiles.

"We are extremely excited to introduce this remarkable technology to the refuse market" said Don Verhoff, Oshkosh's executive vice president, engineering technology. "Our ProPulse hybrid drive system could significant reduce fuel costs. During extensive customer field tests, it has shown improved fuel efficiency of 20 to 50 percent over the typical refuse trucks."

The ProPulse hybrid electric drive technology was developed for the refuse vehicle application as part of the Advanced Heavy Hybrid Propulsion System Project sponsored by the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Key partners in this four-year development effort were Rockwell Automation, The Ohio State University and John Miller Enterprises.