Fuel/Emissions
Bosch slashes NOx, without adding components
Flat Rock, Mich. – Bosch says it has pioneered an emissions reduction technology that can cut NOx emissions to 10% of levels seen with current diesel-powered cars, and without adding components. Not only that, the company says the technology can be scaled up for use in medium- and heavy-duty diesel engines. The supplier based in Stuttgart, Germany, unveiled the technology in April and offered further details during a North American press event this week. Alex Freitag, director of engineering with Bosch’s powertrain solutions group, said the new approach to NOx emissions will keep diesel engines in the game for years to come without adding significant costs to the vehicle. "The value proposition of the diesel engine is maintained with a minimal impact on fuel economy," he said.
Volvo electrifies in Europe … again
GOTHENBURG, Sweden – Volvo Trucks has unveiled another electric truck in the form of the Volvo FE, just three weeks after unveiling its first all-electric truck in the form of the Volvo FL. The FE is designed for city distribution and refuse operations with gross weights up to 59,500 lb.
Video: Fuel for thought, and action
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. -- Some of the most important factors behind spec'ing decisions are those that promise better fuel economy. A panel of experts at the Canadian Fleet Maintenance Summit (CFMS) discussed how claims should be weighed, and steps that will deliver a return on investments.
Here Comes the Sun: Does solar have a role as an alternative fuel?
TORONTO, Ont. -- In some corners of North America, the idea of adding solar power to a truck or trailer is a no-brainer. You'd be forgiven for thinking that none of those corners are in Canada. That's mostly true, but it doesn't necessarily mean that solar has no place here. Just that you must be careful in assessing manufacturer claims about what their solar gizmo can actually do. Almost all of Canada gets an average of 4.2 hours of solar sunlight a day. Two areas -- a small stretch of the southern prairies and a little ribbon of central B.C. -- crank that number up to 4.5 hours. Compare that to as many six hours in Arizona, New Mexico, and a patch of southeast California. Doesn't sound like much of a difference, but it's a big deal. A 300-watt solar setup that can help to run a tractor's electric APU in that part of the U.S. would probably have to be a 600- or 800-watt setup for a rig running, say, a Toronto-Montreal-Halifax route. It also means that manufacturer claims can be rather idealistic if calculations were based on experience in warm and sunny parts of our world. There's no subterfuge involved here, but “your mileage may vary,” as they say.
Think Tanks: There’s a right way and wrong way to fill up
MONTREAL, Que. -- Some truck components have been around for so long that they rarely receive a second thought, and dual fuel tanks are a perfect example. Introduced to extend the range of trucks between refills, the tanks are usually mounted on opposite sides of the frame rails. But this also introduces hazards that emerge with two separate filling points.
