o/t 'Green' ideas for demo truck
Turbo Mini Forums

At work we are looking at replacing our demo truck, and we want to look at the most environmentally friendly options in terms of powering the truck when it’s parked up doing its thing. It basically needs to run air-con and equipment that would normally run off mains electricity.

I know nothing about this sort of thing - I don’t know if solar panels are an option, or what sort of generators to look at, or if there are other options. I know hybrid cars like the Prius are perceived as green but all the good is undone when you factor in what it takes to make the batteries for it etc. We don’t want to go down this route; it has to be properly environmentally friendly (if that’s possible).

Does anyone know about this stuff, or know of any companies that specialise in this sort of thing?

Thanks in advance

diesel generator running on veggie oil?

Green Truck?

1/4 Mile 14.3secs 96Mph Terminal 10psi of boost.


Fibreglass Parts? - http://www.tdkracing.co.uk/
Split Rims? - http://www.force-racing.co.uk/

http://ecm-prod-cs.etn.com/EatonCom/Produc...rview/index.htm

Powering stuff / making electricity requires a lot of energy - and you aren't going to get that using solar panels!

Instead of just looking at how to be energy efficient when making the power, try to look at the most energy efficient way of getting the power supply (truck) to the site, and concentrate on that.

Noise pollution is another factor to consider - although not so 'green' it is a polluter in the eyes of tree-huggers and hippies.

Not sure what is happening in EU right now, but there are OEMs working on large trucks with hybrids. Daimler Benz is also working on a hybrid sprinter (maybe it's released alredy?). Perhaps downsizing from a 7.5 tonner to a sprinter and a trailer could be considered more 'green' than an atego or whatever?

Hybrid stuff is 'good' - is it the right answer? I suspect not.... It is a starting point for where we will be heading in the future which we don't know at this time - main problem is you can make cars lighter, and run them on batteries - or even compressed air like TATA are claiming; Trucks have to do work however. Downsizing is a real positive step, in that you use a smaller vehicle, and adopt a trailer when you need more 'vehicle'...

Tell us what your current vehicle is - and lets take it from there...

How about a big extension lead ?


The most green thing I can think of, is a truck that kills hippy tree loving car haters.
When dead, they will no longer increase the levels of CO2 in our atmosphere :), or cause any further pollution.

Now that is GREEN.

9.85 @ 145mph
202mph standing mile
speed didn't kill me, but taxation probably will

Dave, that link doesn't seem to do anything.

I see where you are coming from though. We currently have a 7.5 tonne box truck, but rather than downsize I believe we are looking to go bigger. Possibly even something along the lines of the articulated units used by F1 and WRC teams.

Neil

Do you want me to have a word with my Father in Law about this.
As you are aware he's an Auto Electrician and larger vehicles are his forte.
As far as Solar Panels go, they are expensive to buy and have a limited life.
Possibly a combination of solar and wind turbine to charge batteries when at a show?
Dave's approach is logical, stevie's is interesting but might not win over your Directors.
Having the vehicle converted to run on biodiesel (twin Tanks?) might be possible and may offer a distinct saving on running costs.

If you are thinking articulated then the new M&S trucks seem to be thinking right.



But the only other thing I can think of doing is rather than make energy more efficienly, is to use less by having more efficient equipment. The lighter weight the truck is for instance will have a big effect on fuel consumption.

Or maybe some re-gen braking to charge some batteries.

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

Just search for Eaton hybrid and you'll find info on the systems...



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Eaton’s parallel electric system delivers powerful benefits.

Eaton couples a vehicle’s diesel engine with an electric motor / generator and batteries to create Eaton’s patented hybrid electric system.

The hybrid electric system maintains conventional drivetrain architecture – such as Eaton’s Fuller® UltraShift® automated transmissions – while adding the ability to augment engine torque with electrical torque.

The system recovers energy normally lost during braking and stores the energy in batteries. When electric torque is blended with engine torque, the stored energy is used to improve fuel economy and vehicle performance for a given speed or used to operate the vehicle with electric power only.

This integrated system delivers a number of benefits, including:

Up to 60 percent reduction in fuel consumption*
Up to 87 percent reduction in idle times*
Reduced maintenance and lower life cycle costs
Reduced emissions*
Quieter operations and better acceleration
The system can also be designed to provide energy for use during engine-off worksite operations. As an additional benefit, should the hybrid system go off-line, conventional engine-powered operation continues.

Edited by turbodave16v on 23rd Jul, 2008.