GE debuts hybrid dump truck

LONDON, UK - We have seen the advent of hybrid cars, hybrid trains and even hybrid tanks. Now General Electric (GE) has announced that it has successfully tested a giant hybrid dump truck.

Writing on the GE Global Research blog, Tim Richter an engineer in the conglomerate's hybrid vehicle team, said that the haul truck had been fitted with a hybrid system based on the same battery technology used in the hybrid locomotive the company demonstrated last year.

Haul trucks are huge dump trucks typically used to transport ore at open pit mines.

Richter said the new 600hp hybrid battery pack worked in much the same as a conventional hybrid car engine, capturing energy lost during brake to re use as the vehicle accelerates.

"When the driver calls for acceleration or power to climb a hill, the energy that was captured from the wheel motors during braking is released from the battery," he explained. "The energy is used to supplement the engine and reduce fuel usage or provide a power boost to increase speeds."

He added that the company plans to continue testing the new vehicle as it seeks to optimize the batteries and assess how reliable they prove in the harsh environment in which mine haul trucks operate.

Richter also predicted that the company can expect to see growing interest in hybrid technologies from a range of industries. "These technologies continue to gather interest and value against the continuing increase in fuel prices and price pressures on manufacturers and distributors," he observed.

Related News

openai-expands-washington-effort-to-shape-ai-policy

OpenAI Expands Washington Effort to Shape AI Policy

WASHINGTON DC - OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, is significantly expanding its presence in Washington, D.C., aiming to influence policy decisions that will shape the future of artificial intelligence (AI) and its integration into critical sectors like energy and national security. This strategic move comes as the company seeks to position itself as a key player in the U.S. economic and security landscape, particularly in the context of global competition with China.

Expansion of Policy Team

To enhance its influence, OpenAI is tripling the size of its Washington policy team. While the 12-person team is still smaller compared to tech…

READ MORE
Warren Buffett

Warren Buffett’s Secret To Cheap Electricity: Wind

READ MORE

carbon free future

Minnesota bill mandating 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040

READ MORE

ottawa power lines

Lack of energy: Ottawa’s electricity consumption drops 10 per cent during pandemic

READ MORE

canada-electricity-exports-at-risk-amid-growing-us-canada-trade-tensions

Canada's Electricity Exports at Risk Amid Growing U.S.-Canada Trade Tensions

READ MORE