Volvo Trucks has looked into the future of long-haul big rigs and sees a hybrid. The Swedish manufacturer, which owns the Mack brand in the U.S., is testing its first hybrid alternative powertrain truck to see how much fuel it will save on long-haul deliveries. The vehicle is expected to produce 30 percent less CO2 emissions than a comparable diesel powered traditional truck. The hybrid is part of a growing movement within the trucking industry to design more fuel efficient and…
Read MoreIsuzu Issues Recall Involving 21,000 Trucks
Isuzu Technical Center of America, Inc. (Isuzu) is recalling certain 2015-2017 NPR HD, NPR XD, NQR and NRR trucks. During manufacturing, the stamping equipment may have created burrs on the frame crossmember that the transmission is mounted to. These burrs may cause the transmission mounting studs to break. CONSEQUENCE: If the studs break, the transmission may not be properly supported, preventing it from shifting correctly and increasing the risk of…
Read MorePrevost Motor Coach Steering Arm Recall
Prevost Cars, Inc. (Prevost) is recalling certain 2017 H3-45 and X3-45 motor coach models. These vehicles have steering arm levers that were incorrectly forged, possibly resulting in the steering arm levers cracking and failing. CONSEQUENCE: If the steering arm lever fails, causing a loss of steering, it can increase the risk of a crash. REMEDY: Prevost will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering arm lever, free of charge. The…
Read MoreMack Wrightspeed New Electric Garbage Truck
Humans generate a lot of trash. Refuse trucks circulate through our cities and neighborhoods collecting that trash, typically starting and stopping every few yards. For trucks that can weigh up to 33 tons, all of the slowing down and speeding up uses a lot of fuel and generates a lot of emissions. At this week’s WasteExpo in Las Vegas, Mack Trucks and Wrightspeed are teaming up to demonstrate a plug-in…
Read MorePG&E Plug-In Electric Class 6 Hybrid Truck
Pacific Gas and Electric Company and Efficient Drivetrains Incorporated (EDI) unveiled the utility industry’s first plug-in electric hybrid (PHEV) Class 6 truck featuring technology that has the potential to fundamentally change how the utility manages planned and unplanned outages. The vehicle, developed by EDI in partnership with PG&E, features a plug-in electric hybrid (PHEV) drivetrain that combines up to 50 miles of all-electric driving with 300 more miles of driving…
Read MoreElectric Buses Now Cheaper than Diesel/CNG
Transit vehicles today are mostly powered by gasoline, diesel, and CNG, while electric batteries only represent about 1% of the market. It is currently a small part of the industry, but it’s also the fastest growing fuel source in the sector and it’s starting to become highly competitive and cheaper. Electric bus maker Proterra is ramping up production and currently claims to be cheaper than diesel and CNG. It leads CEO…
Read MoreForest River RV Power Steering Hose Recall
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Berkshire and Charleston recreational vehicles built on Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (FCCC) RV chassis. In these vehicles, the power steering hose may be improperly routed causing inadequate clearance between the hose and power stud. As a result, the hose can rub the power stud causing arcing and a power steering fluid leak. CONSEQUENCE: Arcing in the presence of power steering fluid…
Read MoreVan Hool MotorCoach Steering Box Recall
Van Hool N.V. (Van Hool) is recalling certain 2010-2014 C2045 and T2145 motorcoaches, 2014-2015 TX40 motorcoaches, 2014-2017 TX45 motorcoaches, 2011-2015 TD925 motorcoaches, 2014-2016 CX45 motorcoaches and 2010-2013 T2140 motorcoach. When the vehicle is started in low temperatures, the steering wheel may be difficult to turn. CONSEQUENCE: Reduced steering ability can increase the risk of a crash. REMEDY: Van Hool will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering box, free…
Read MoreKenworth Predictive Cruise Increases MPG
Kenworth has updated its Predictive Cruise Control functionality for T680 and T880 trucks equipped with the 2017 Paccar MX-11, MX-13, and Cummins X15 engines to improve fuel economy and overall MPG. The update was made with the launch of 2017 emission engines and provides up to a 1% improvement in fuel economy over the current versions with Predictive Cruise Control, according to Patrick Dean, Kenworth chief engineer. Kenworth’s Predictive Cruise…
Read MoreBYD Supplies 20 Electric Buses to UC Irvine
BYD California’s truck and bus facility isn’t much to look at – an elderly concrete tilt-up in a mostly still unbuilt industrial center in Lancaster, a high-desert community about 70 miles north of downtown Los Angeles. But things are changing for the electric vehicle maker, a unit of China’s giant BYD Co. BYD has started a factory expansion on a 200,000-square-foot lot in front of the former recreational vehicle assembly…
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