Kenworth advances in multiple classes and green efforts

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Kenworth Truck Company had on display, for the first time, a PACCAR heavy-duty engine in a Kenworth Class 8 model, during the Great American Trucking Show (GATS). A Kenworth T800 test truck with a 12.9-litre PACCAR engine produced for the North American market, was on display at the truck show in Dallas. The Kenworth test truck is part of a fleet of vehicles with PACCAR engines undergoing extensive testing in North America.

Some of the new engines will be installed at the Kenworth plant in Chillicothe, Ohio, which recently completed a 105,000 sq.-ft. expansion.

Also on display at GATS were the PACCAR PX-6 and PX-8 medium-duty engines. The engines are available for Kenworth’s medium-duty conventional products and will also be featured in two new models getting set for production. The new Kenworth medium-duty conventional models will enter production in the fourth quarter of this year.

Both models are available with the PACCAR PX-6 engine rated to 325 hp and 750 ft.-lb. of torque; and with the PACCAR PX-8 engine rated to 330 hp and 1,000 ft.-lb. of torque. Customers can choose manual or automatic transmissions, as well as air or hydraulic brakes. Both models offer many exhaust options for the various wheelbases, especially important to body builders that work with medium-duty customers.

Through a number of different initiatives, Kenworth is making advancements in its environmental efforts in both the heavy- and medium-duty markets. Kenworth’s dedication to the “green fleet” extends to the EPA SmartWay program, Kenworth Clean Power no-idle system, Kenworth T800 liquefied natural gas (LNG) trucks, medium-duty hybrid-electric vehicles and PACCAR medium-duty engines.

The US EPA recently recognized Kenworth’s aerodynamic T660 and T2000 models as SmartWay program eligible trucks. In addition, the Kenworth T660 with 72-inch AeroCab sleeper is now available with Kenworth Clean Power, which may enhance fuel economy by as much as 8% for customers with current high idling times.

Kenworth also received the prestigious Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute’s 2007 Industry Innovation Award for alternative fuel trucks for the Kenworth T800 LNG truck. The award involves Kenworth T800s being placed into the port markets of Los Angeles and Long Beach, two of the US’s busiest ports.

The Kenworth T800s are equipped with the LNG fuel system – developed by Vancouver-based Westport Innovations – that runs primarily on liquefied natural gas and is installed on the Cummins 15-litre engine. The result is reduced emissions and less reliance on diesel fuel by running the cleaner LNG fuel.

Kenworth also recently began limited deliveries of its medium- duty hybrid-electric truck, which will go into full production next year, as Seattle-based Dunn Lumber became Kenworth’s first hybrid customer.

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