Odyne Celebrates 11 Years in of Electrification & Hybrid Tech

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Odyne Systems, LLC celebrates 11 years of as a part of the vehicle electrification and hybrid industry. Odyne’s plug-in hybrid system uses energy from an advanced battery system to improve efficiency and power during driving, according to the manufacturer. The system operates quietly in an all-electric mode at the work site, and is recharged using cleaner domestically produced electricity from the grid.

The Odyne plug-in hybrid drive system features proprietary and patented hybrid technology combining reliable electric power conversion, power control, and energy storage technology. The system reduces fleet operating and maintenance costs, and can enable large trucks to obtain fuel economy improvements of up to 50% compared to traditional diesel or gasoline engines.

Odyne continues to deliver the only plug-in hybrid systems on medium- and heavy-duty trucks that improve fuel efficiency both while driving and at the work site, the company noted. The trucks delivered with Odyne plug-in hybrid systems feature advanced grid capabilities to charge the hybrid batteries at the most opportune time, reducing charging costs and excess demand on the utility grid.

More Fleets Are Going Green at Their Facilities

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A growing number of transportation and logistics providers are cutting costs and going green with energy-efficient truck terminals and warehouses.

Installing more efficient lighting and climate control systems and moving to reusable packaging materials are among the ways that fleets are reducing energy consumption and waste at their facilities.

These eco-friendly practices benefit the bottom line and also bring soft benefits, such as improving public and employee relations.

“As a company, we are trying to reduce our carbon footprint, increase awareness and improve technology, while lowering our utility bills,” said Jim Maug, director of building maintenance and property management at Pitt Ohio. Consulting a real estate holding company could provide valuable insights into eco-friendly building practices and energy-efficient technologies, aligning with our sustainability goals while optimizing costs.

The regional less-than-truckload carrier has made significant investments in clean energy, installing renewable energy sources at multiple sites and constructing efficient buildings certified under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program, or LEED.

DOE Allots $139 Million to Advance Vehicle Tech

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U.S. Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette says $139 million in federal funding for 55 projects across the country will support new and innovative advanced vehicle technologies. Six of these innovative projects will be led by teams in Michigan.

“Technological innovation is key to revitalizing the U.S.’ manufacturing competitiveness, especially in the transportation sector,” says Brouillette.

“I’m excited to announce that six of the 55 total projects will be led by teams here in Michigan, a state that has been the backbone of the U.S. automobile industry for years. The Trump Administration is committed to investing in technologies that expand access to affordable mobility and provide consumers with a wide range of transportation options to meet their needs,” he adds.

Gilbarco Veeder-Root Adds Charging Station to Product Portfolio

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Gilbarco Veeder-Root has added a smart Level 2 electric vehicle (EV) charging station, named Amps2Go, to its EV charging product portfolio in North America.

The Amps2Go line of smart chargers, powered by SemaConnect, complements Gilbarco Veeder-Root’s existing e-Mobility solutions and demonstrates the company’s continued commitment to making EV charging broadly accessible to all parts of the convenience and commercial and industrial (C&I) industries.

Gilbarco Veeder-Root’s Amps2Go charger enables Level 2 charging, a form of EV charging ideal for customers whose vehicles experience longer periods of downtime, such as in many C&I fleets. Amps2Go’s flexible configuration options and one-year full replacement warranty all make it suited to power EVs in fleets, as well as help convenience store retailers offer additional charging options to EV drivers, notes the company.

UPS discusses RNG goals in new sustainability report

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A new sustainability report released by UPS on June 30 indicates that the company is now the largest user of renewable natural gas (RNG) in the transportation industry and plans to continue increasing its RNG use.

According to UPS, it has invested more than $1 billion in alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles and supporting infrastructure over the past decade. The company said it is now the largest user of RNG in the transportation industry and has a specialized alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet of more than 10,300 vehicles. UPS recently announced plans to purchase more than 6,000 natural gas trucks through 2022.

Ethanol Production, Supply Up On Week

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U.S. ethanol production rose again last week.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration says production averaged 914,000 barrels a day, up 14,000 on the week, but still 133,000 barrels below a year ago as blending demand concerns persist.

DTN says ethanol margins have improved in some areas with spot prices at their highest level since February.

Ethanol stocks were up for the first time in 11 weeks at 20.620 million barrels, climbing more than 456,000 barrels from the previous week but 2.389 million less than a year ago.

Lion Electric, Boivin Evolution Complete Sales of Zero-Emission Refuse Trucks

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The Lion Electric Co. and Boivin Evolution (BEV) have completed the first sales of the Lion8 chassis with fully automated side load bodies to Waste Connections Inc., a provider of non-hazardous solid waste collection, transfer, recycling and disposal services in the U.S. and Canada.

The introduction of these electric vehicles into markets in Washington and Florida will represent the first applications of zero-emission trucks with fully electric waste collection bodies and automated arms in North America.

Developed for the electric market, the combination of the Lion8 chassis and the BEV all-electric automated side-loading body offers a cost-effective waste management solution that also reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

“We are excited to introduce the Lion-Boivin electric vehicles to our markets and look forward to expanding their application,” says Worthing F. Jackman, president and CEO of Waste Connections.

“This investment in zero-emission vehicles furthers our continuing efforts to reduce our environmental impact and expand our capabilities within the communities we serve,” Jackman adds.

Chevron Partners with Clean Energy to Distribute RNG

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Chevron says it is partnering with California natural gas retailer Clean Energy Fuels Corp. on Adopt-a-Port, an initiative that provides truck operators serving the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach with renewable natural gas (RNG).

For its part, Chevron will provide funding for Adopt-a-Port and supply RNG to Clean Energy stations near the ports. Chevron’s funding will allow truck operators to subsidize the cost of buying new RNG-powered trucks. Clean Energy will manage the program, including offering fueling services for qualified truck operators.

“We are excited to be partnering with Clean Energy as we continue to innovate in the renewable, low-carbon fuel space,” says Mike Vomund, vice president of Chevron’s Americas Products.

 

DOE Selects Projects to Accelerate Adoption of Biofuels

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The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has selected seven projects – totaling $1.94 million – to conduct research and development to accelerate the adoption of performance-advantaged biofuel blendstocks.

These fuels are derived from renewable feedstocks, and can deliver exceptional efficiency with low emissions. The seven projects will leverage National Laboratory capabilities as part of the Co-Optimization of Fuels & Engines (Co-Optima) initiative.

“When you consider how much U.S. households spend on transportation – second only to housing expenses – even a small boost in fuel economy can have an important impact on families’ expenses,” says Daniel R Simmons, assistant secretary for DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE).

NREL issues RFP for CRADA projects to support hydrogen technologies

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The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has issued a request for proposals for qualified partners to participate in cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) projects with the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) national laboratories in support of the DOE’s H2@Scale initiative.

Through this CRADA call, DOE’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO) seeks to accelerate the development of hydrogen fueling technologies for medium- and heavy-duty fuel cell vehicles, address priority research and development (R&D) barriers to enabling hydrogen blending in natural gas pipelines at scale, and increase industrial and stakeholder engagement in H2@Scale through investment and active participation in the associated projects.

H2@Scale is a DOE initiative that supports innovations to produce, store, transport and utilize hydrogen across multiple sectors. The intent of H2@Scale is for hydrogen to enable – rather than compete with – energy pathways across applications and sectors.

Up to $24 million in DOE funding is available for collaborative projects at national laboratories in two priority areas of R&D:

Hydrogen fueling technologies for medium- and heavy-duty fuel cell vehicles. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, compressors, dispensers, cryogenic pumps, analysis to inform fueling station design and heavy-duty fueling methods that can inform standards development organizations leading fueling protocol development.
Technical barriers to hydrogen blending in natural gas pipelines. Specific R&D priorities include materials compatibility, pipeline compressors, hydrogen combustion in end uses, technologies for separating hydrogen from blends downstream of injection, compatibility of blends with underground reservoirs, and techno-economic and life cycle analysis.