Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer

Stop-and-Go Power!
Using innovative series hydraulic hybrid technology, the EPA National Vehicle Fuel Emissions Laboratory (NVFEL) and its industry partners have created a highly efficient and cost-effective hybrid powertrain technology. This technology is projected to improve stop-and-go fuel efficiency of off-road container tractors, known as yard hostlers, by 50-60 percent and reduces CO2 greenhouse gas emissions by over 30 percent. The unique energy recovery technology used to stop an hydraulic hybrid vehicle also reduces brake wear by up to 75 percent, increasing the net operating savings substantially. Hydraulic hybrid vehicles (HHV) rely on EPA's proven innovative technology, which is being evaluated in package delivery vehicles, shuttle buses, refuse trucks, light-duty work trucks and SUVs.

Rolling Toward Victory
As the Ground Vehicle Center of Excellence, the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development & Engineering Center (TARDEC) continues to make advances in new technologies with engineering improvements that meet or exceed warfighter requirements. In recognition of this, two projects—the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) Egress Assistance Trainer (HEAT) and the Self Protective Adaptive Roller Kit (SPARK)—were honored by soldiers in June 2008 with the U.S. Army Greatest Inventions Awards for 2007. Pictured here, SPARK provides additional standoff protection to vehicle and crew against pressure-activated explosive devices and mines. SPARK can be adapted to fit various ground vehicle systems.

Commercialization of EPA Technology on Hydraulic Hybrid Refuse Trucks
Refuse vehicles use a lot of fuel, which is expensive and pollutes the air; however, hybrid vehicle technology has been considered too expensive to be practical for really heavy vehicles like garbage trucks. That is, until now, thanks to the team at the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The team invented and developed a new hybrid technology for heavy vehicles. "Hydraulic hybrid" technology uses hydraulic accumulators instead of batteries to capture and store energy, and it's starting to hit the road now as a result of a truly impressive technology transfer effort by the EPA. Early commercial vehicles now in use in Michigan and Florida communities show fuel savings of 30-50%, along with significant savings in brake replacements, resulting in an attractive payback for fleet owners.

To transfer the technology to industry, the EPA negotiated Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) with two large, global, U.S.-based suppliers of hydraulic components, Eaton Corporation and Parker-Hannifin Corporation, to build and evaluate novel prototype hydraulic components that could be used to create a viable hydraulic hybrid vehicle. Through these separate CRADAs, the EPA engineers worked tirelessly to transfer their knowledge to the industry partners. Ultimately, all EPA inventions for the hydraulic hybrid were licensed to the partners.

The EPA's hydraulic hybrid technology is in the development stage for various other vehicle applications. Demonstration hydraulic hybrid package delivery vehicles, also built by Eaton and Parker, have already been completed. The EPA is continuing to work with Eaton, Parker, and other industry partners to complete the transfer of technology for hydraulic hybrid delivery vehicles. EPA has also entered into a partnership with Navistar to work on a demonstration hydraulic hybrid shuttle bus to be introduced by 2012.