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GE Debuts Giant Hybrid Dump Truck
General Electric successfully tested a giant hybrid dump truck that would be used for open pit mining operations. GE took the concept of a conventional hybrid vehicle system and applied it on a grand scale.
The battery packs, which are sodium based, would generate 600 hp and would be able to take advantage of regenerative braking much like what you would see in a Prius. When the driver accelerates, the energy captured from the wheel motors during braking is released from the monster battery packs. These trucks operate in very harsh conditions and it will be interesting to see the durability of the hybrid systems in this type of environment.
GE is predicting that they will see a growing interest in hybrid technologies from a range of different industries because of soaring fuel costs. They are also in the process of developing a hybrid locomotive which would save the railroad companies an estimated $425 million dollars per year!
Source: GE Global Research Blog
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May 11th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
I think this is one of the best ideas that GE has come up with so far. After doing some research, I realized that there are much more dump trucks in the world then many people may think. Some sources were saying that 85 to 90 percent of the are completely fuel inefficient. To conclude, I think that the world could benefit in a great way form these new fuel efficient hybrid dump trucks.
May 14th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
You are absolutely right Max, and there is no reason (other than corporate profits) why this shouldn’t be the standard. Manufacturers have been making hybrid SUVs for a while so there is this is a logical evolution. Keith you note about a hybrid locomotive is equally encouraging. I would like to see the technology evolve to become the norm on highway tractors as well. However all this is meaningless if the vehicles are not put into widespread service.
May 15th, 2008 at 4:47 am
I agree with you EC Trilastin Sr. I think our government should take the huge hit in cost which will occur at first from the mass production and expenses of creating these enormous vehicles. But as the demand rises the prices will fall as in most economic systems. The reason why I feel the government should bare this burden is because they waited so long, maybe even too long to start worrying about this issue. Its really sad to see that the one thing we thrive on, the environment, is the one main thing we dedicated the least amount of attention to. But whats done is done and the attention now needs to be directed to both healthier production of products, as well as healthier and more environmentally friendly products as well.
November 12th, 2008 at 1:28 am
Indeed having a hybrid dump truck is a great idea. I just hope that the government will support this kind of things. And also, this should be implemented world wide.