Electric Hybrid 18-Wheeler, Powered By Axion PbC Batteries, on Tap

Axion Power™ International, Inc. (OTC QB: AXPW), the developer of advanced lead-carbon PbC® batteries and energy storage systems, has announced that the company will utilize an Indiana venue to display their PbC battery, and its use in an electric hybrid Class 8 truck developed by ePower Engines.

The truck will be powered by a 56 battery array and will be available to a wide variety of drivers and truck fleet owners through a ‘Ride and/ Drive’ program set up at the Indiana Green Fleet Conference on September 23-25 in Elizabeth, IN. Vani Dantam, Axion’s Senior Vice President of Business Development, Sales and Marketing will explain the application to the Conference and detail how the hybrid system, incorporating Axion PbC batteries, dramatically increases obtainable ‘miles per gallon’ in normal heavy duty truck operating environments. Mr. Dantam will also serve as moderator for the Transportation section of the Conference.

The electric hybrid 18-wheelers have been retrofitted, from standard internal combustion engines, to series diesel electric hybrid drive train systems that include a string of 56 PbC batteries by privately held, Florence, KY-based ePower Engine Systems. The PbC batteries have been selected for the 18-wheel Class 8 truck conversions because of their high cycle life; their unique high charge acceptance capability; their ability to discharge and recharge quickly and their inherent self-equalization characteristic that is particularly advantageous to large string applications.

Diesel fuel is the largest variable cost in trucking, with Class 8 trucks alone consuming more than 19 billion gallons of diesel fuel annually, noted Axion Power Chairman and CEO Tom Granville. It is estimated that the ePower hybrid system, utilizing PbC batteries, will be able to reduce fuel consumption by some 35% going forward.

“There is considerable enthusiasm being generated for this hybrid heavy-duty truck because of the fuel savings and emission improvements it is demonstrating during test drives,” said Granville. “The entire trucking industry is looking for new ways to save on fuel costs as well as control harmful emissions and we believe we have the system and the unique battery technology to assist them on both fronts.”  More info at Axion Power.

Tags: Axion Power

Category: Engines & Drivetrains, General Update, Green