Electric trucks ready to go

Communities across the country are considering implementing electric truck lanes adjacent to major highways in an effort to reduce traffic congestion and sound pollution, which could improve fleet management efforts by providing more efficient trucking routes.

At the 26th annual Electric Vehicle Symposium, Siemens Corporation unveiled its latest ehighway concept, which aims to reduce fossil fuel consumption and traffic congestion through the adoption of hybrid diesel electric freight trucks. These trucks will use built-in technology to connect to electric wires above the road typically used to power commuter trains and streetcars. The trucks will have the ability to switch from electric to diesel power at any time, allowing truckers to reach their destinations faster and more efficiently, MSNBC reported.

According to The Atlantic Cities, the electric truck lanes work by attaching the truck's pantograph to the electric lines, while the driver controls which energy source to use to move forward. When a driver brakes, the electric lane will transfer the drag into energy, which can then be sent back into the lane for the next cargo truck to access. When the trucker is ready to get off the electric wire, the truck can be disengaged with the flip of a switch and the driver can switch to diesel fuel energy.

Electric trucks ready to go

Thursday, May 24th, 2012