Miami-Dade County Hydraulic Hybrid Refuse Truck Evaluation
As part of its overall strategy to reduce emissions and fuel use, Miami-Dade County
currently operates 35 hydraulic hybrid refuse vehicles, with 29 more on order.
Photo courtesy of Parker Hannifin
NREL is evaluating the in-service performance of 10 next-generation (model year 2015) hydraulic hybrid refuse vehicles (HHVs), eight previous-generation (model year 2013) HHVs, and eight comparable conventional diesel vehicles operated by Miami-Dade County's Public Works and Waste Management Department in southern Florida.
The HHVs feature RunWise hydraulic hybrid systems manufactured by Parker Hannifin. Such systems capture braking energy in high-pressure hydraulic accumulators to be used for subsequent vehicle acceleration.
Launched in March 2015, the on-road portion of this evaluation focuses on collecting and analyzing vehicle performance data fuel economy, maintenance costs, and drive cycles from the HHVs and the conventional diesel vehicles.
In addition to the on-road evaluation, one HHV and one conventional vehicle will undergo chassis dynamometer evaluation to determine the fuel economy and emissions impact of the hydraulic hybrid technology in a controlled setting.
The study aims to improve understanding of the overall usage and effectiveness of HHVs in refuse operation compared to similar conventional vehicles and to provide unbiased technical information to interested stakeholders. The results will help Miami-Dade County determine the ideal routes for maximizing the fuel-saving potential of its HHVs.
Publications
The following documents provide more information about the study.
- Project Startup: Evaluating the Performance of Hydraulic Hybrid Refuse Vehicles
- NREL Evaluates Performance of Hydraulic Hybrid Refuse Vehicles
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