Eaton says it’s made a number of enhancements that will increase the fuel economy, performance, and payback of its hybrid power system for commercial vehicles. Included are a new high-capacity battery, a new single-phase 115-volt AC auxiliary power generator (APG), a higher capacity clutch to expand applications up to 860 lb ft of torque, and a new remanufactured battery for aftermarket purchase.

At the heart of the high-capacity lithium-ion battery, says Eaton, is the latest battery cell architecture. The new design increases the fuel savings of Eaton’s hybrid power system an additional 5 to 10%, the company claims, while also improving vehicle performance. The new battery more than doubles the engine-off capability of the system for job-site operations, says Eaton, and extends battery life as well.

There’s also a new single-phase 5-kilowatt auxiliary power generator as of this fall. The APG option converts high-voltage DC current from the battery to 115-volt AC current that can be used by any number of tools on the job site. It’s said to be more compact and 25 lb lighter than the company’s previous offering.

The new APG unit offers a soft-start function that can handle high in-rush loads that demand an immediate boost of power, Eaton says. The APG is fully isolated from the high-voltage battery, which eliminates the need for a separate isolating transformer to further reduce cost and weight.

Both the new high-capacity battery and APG will be rolled out during the fourth quarter of this year to serve utility applications. The new battery will be available for city delivery and beverage tractor applications in the third quarter of 2012.

Eaton is also now offering higher capacity clutches that can handle engines up to 860 lb ft of torque and 300 hp.

Lastly, Eaton says it will begin offering a remanufactured battery in July that will provide fleets with an affordable aftermarket option.

www.eaton.com/roadranger

www.eaton.com