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Germany’s Gone all Hybrid

Europe’s biggest truck show – the IAA in Hanover, took place at the end of September. The sheer size of the show is enough to take your breath away, before you have trudged around the kilometres of 1,619 exhibitors. There were plenty of themes on show, but it was the proliferation of truck hybrids that made the biggest news. In truth, we had seen most of the hybrid trucks before, as early prototypes – the difference now is that some of the manufacturers have the trucks for sale.

The formats all seem to be very similar – take an EEV engine, bolt on an automatic gearbox with an electric motor attached and add a hundred kilos of Lithium –Ion batteries and run them in parallel. This means that the trucks can run on diesel only, diesel and electric simultaneously or purely electrically driven, (although only for a handful of miles). Mercedes-Benz The Atego Hybrid on show The company’s new Atego has just been awarded the truck of the year 2011 – importantly the judges stressed that it was the progress with the 1222 L EEV BlueTec Hybrid version that impressed. The hybrid is currently under test and 50 of them are to be sold to German customers to prove the system in a working environment. It will be some while before UK Mercedes-Benz dealers can get their teeth into selling the Mercedes Atego Hybrid. 

Mitsubishi Fuso

The Japanese arm of the Daimler Trucks empire are further down the road with alternative drives than their European counterparts. There are already 1,000 Canter hybrids in operation including ten on test in London for the last two years. Expect to see more of them at UK dealerships in the not too distant future.

DAF

DAF are well on the way to actually producing their LF Hybrid – the first European manufacturer to do so. The company announced that the Leyland plant would start the hybrid production before this year is out. As with the Atego, the LF is plated at 12 tonnes GVW, to ensure that there is an acceptable payload of about 7.5 tonnes – the LF Hybrid carrying a 300kg weight disadvantage over a standard diesel version. The DAF LF Hybrid will only be offered as standard via PACCAR Financial with a full operational lease contract. This means that the DAF dealer can implement any potential updates during the contract term.

 

MAN

The company has been working on hybrid drives since the 1970′s – despite this their TGL 12.220 Hybrid is still just a technical exercise for the company as it doesn’t believe that there is a business case for the technology as it stands today.

 

Volvo

Volvo was demonstrating a hybrid driveline based on a 7-litre engine that will be launched in a hybrid version of the Volvo FE in 2011. Volvo is currently the only truck manufacturer (With the exception of subsidiary Renault Trucks offering hybrid technology for vehicles in the 26-tonne segment.

 

Renault Trucks

Renault Trucks use ‘Clean Tech’ Umbrella for their alternative drive technologies Renault Trucks are running trials higher up the weight range at 26 tonnes, with vehicles starting work with Coca Cola, Colas roads and SITA. The company’s first experiment as been completed and their ‘second generation’ hybrid trial means that the Premium Distribution Hybrys Tech truck won’t be appearing in dealerships any time soon.

 

Green’s the Theme

Continuing the show’s green theme, there was not a truck on display that wasn’t at least an EEV – DAF has announced that all of their engine ratings are now available in EEV, some of which without the use of a soot particle filter. Scania have launched their ‘Ecolution’ brand which makes sure that best-practise operations are adhered to – from optimum vehicle specification to maintenance to driver training and ongoing coaching MAN have launched their TGX ‘EfficientLine’ – speed limited to 85kmh and without the option of additional sun visors or compressed-air horns on its standard XLX cab, savings of 0.3 litres of diesel per 100 kilometres can be made plus aerodynamic side cladding, which reduces consumption by another 0.4 litres. Add the aluminium wheels, driver training, efficient alternators and air compressors makes

Iveco has adopted a similar approach with their EcoStralis model – essentially a bundling together of many small fuel-saving initiatives into one truck, where it is hoped a relatively large overall fuel saving will result. Changes include new 305/70R22.5 tyres that are matched with the 2.64:1 rear axle ratio to bring an ideal drive ratio optimised for economy and driveability, a tyre pressure monitoring system, Fiat’s Blue&Me telematics, a air deflector kit, Eurotronic automatic gearbox, and an ECO switch. Not content with a production truck, Iveco put on show their new concept, the Glider. Iveco’s Glider uses high photovoltaic panels to generate renewable energy on board. The panels cover a surface area of approximately 2 m2 of the cab roof, and can produce up to 2 kWh of energy. The Glider also uses a Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) to power the auxiliary systems. In addition, the heat of the exhaust gases is instead turned into electricity thanks to a thermo-dynamic system based on a Rankine cycle, a sort of compact and efficient steam machine. A high efficiency heat exchanger is positioned in the exhaust line immediately after the emission control system. The heat recovery system helps reduce the vehicle’s fuel requirements by up to 10% on motorway journeys.

Truck Not to be left out, the MAN team have put together an impressive design concept that focuses on both the tractor unit and the trailer. With the attention-grabbing headline of a 25% reduction in fuel consumption and CO2, the streamlined tractor unit differs radically from today’s typically cube-shaped trucks. The ‘Concept S’ was developed in the wind tunnel to reduce the wind resistance to levels comparable to some cars. To keep load volumes in line with current levels, the truck and trailer combination would have to be significantly longer than is legally permitted at present – up to 20 metres.

Green Vans

Nissan’s new NV400 – See our New Product News pages The big news came from the Nissan stand, with the first unveiling of the NV400, Nissan’s heavyweight van contender, which we cover in more detail in our new product news pages. Fiat had a new concept on show – a Doblo chassis cab dropside conversion – plus a whole range of ‘natural power’ range – all factory-fitted to run on methane, (plenty of that available in the press conferences). Full electric vans were on show from Mitsubishi (Canter), Ford Transit(Connect), Renault (Kangoo), Renault Trucks (Maxity), Mercedes (Vito E-Cell), Citroen (First Electrique), although dealers will struggle to get hold of them any time soon. New Actros and Axor – a small part of the Daimler display The Wow Factor Visiting the show was a little like the first time in Las Vegas – everything is bigger, louder and more professional than you have ever encountered before.

The Germans take their exhibitions very seriously – the show was open for ‘press only’ for two whole days before the general public were allowed to enter and there were huge press conferences seating hundreds with simultaneous translation into six languages. One of two modest entrances to the Daimler stand MAN’s display left nothing out Most impressive, however, was the size of the exhibition displays. If this is the German truck industry holding back and cutting down in these austere times, then one can only guess how excessive it would all be if they pushed the boat out. Daimler Trucks pulled together all of their brands under one roof – literally taking over a hall at least the size of two football pitches – containing no fewer than 65 vehicles.

Related Mitsubishi Fuso Canter Articles

Isuzu Releases N-series Trucks for Landscape Market

At the much-concluded Super Bowl in Las Vegas, General Motors Isuzu Commercial Truck LLC launched its latest light-duty N-Series commercial trucks. The truck series for the model year 2008 is aimed at a more specific application to include landscaping.

The 2008 Isuzu N-Series features more cab room, enhanced safety features and even greater power. It also offers a more spacious cab with more side-to-side and front-to-back room to promote comfortable travel. The vehicle also holds a sophisticated dashboard with a full complement of easy-to-see gauges and warning lamps. There is also the existence of an easy-to-remove panel for easy access to the wiper motor and linkage as well as other features like Isuzu cold air intake filters, electrical cab connections, storage areas like seat backs, dashboard, glove box, overhead storage shelves and a rear storage organizer.

Other features also include large map pockets built into the new, fully trimmed door panels and cup holders in the center console for oversized drinks and in the dash for regular-sized cans and cups. Optional equipment includes radios, GPS systems and rear view cameras. The truck also is compliant with the more stringent emissions standards that were enforced at the beginning of the year.

In United States, the main rival of the N-Series include the Bering MS, Chevrolet W-Series, GMC W-Series, Mitsubishi Fuso FE and the UD 1200/1300/1400. In Japan, its main competitors include the Mitsubishi Fuso Canter, UD Atlas, Toyota Dyna, and the Hino Dutro.

The Isuzu N-Series comes in gas and diesel models. The choice of the vehicle model could play an essential difference in operating cost. “Landscapers and (those in) other industries still don’t understand that vehicles that are produced in this country or sold in this country, that are produced after the first of January 2007 have to meet these strict standards,” said Todd Bloom, the vice president for marketing for General Motors Isuzu Commercial Truck LLC. The price of the vehicle may increase from ,000 and ,000, depending on the variants.

“I need to attack different applications,” Bloom added. “Let’s say for instance I do not offer my crew cab in a gas version. Many (landscape contractors) are putting (fewer) miles on vehicles a year. I will open up a whole new market in the landscaping industry when I start selling the crew cab in the gas version. It will be a huge, huge success. The majority of my incremental sales are going to come from landscaping and some construction.”

“Isuzu customers who operate their vehicles less than 30,000 miles a year are finding that our gasoline-powered LCFs provide them with substantial savings – up to ,000 on their initial investment when compared to the same truck equipped with diesel power,” said Joe Totaro, the executive vice president and general manager, General Motors Isuzu Commercial Truck LLC.

On the other hand, Isuzu’s diesel expertise has been established for the last couple of years in Japan. “We have 60,000 (diesel) vehicles in Japan,” Bloom said. “We understand this technology backwards and forwards.” “It basically is to the point where it’s incredibly clean,” Bloom noted. “There is no more particulate matter at all that comes out f the back of a diesel truck. It does add weight; it adds complexity; it adds cost.”

“Nobody can mess around with the vehicle,” Bloom concluded. “You just can’t do those things anymore.”

Mitsubishi Fuso Aero Midi

MK Series (1974-1988)

MK103H (1974)

MK115 (1976)

K-MK116 (1979)

P-MK116/516 (1984)

MK MK115H

MK K-MK116H

MK P-MK116J

Aero Midi (First generation, 1988-1993)

P-MK117/126/517 (1988)

P-MM117/517 (1988)

P-MJ117/527 (1988)

U-MK117/517 (1990)

U-MJ517/527 (1990)

U-MM117/517 (1990)

Aero Midi P-MM117J

Aero Midi U-MM517J

Aero Midi P-MJ527F

Fuso MK117JL chassis bus with 6D16 engine in Taiwan.

Fuso MK117J in Hong Kong operated by KMB

Aero Midi (Second generation, 1993-2007)

U-MK117/218/517/525/527/595/618 (1993)

U-MJ217/628 (1993)

KC-MK219/619 (1995)

KC-MK219J (One-step bus, 1998)

KC-MJ218/629 (1995)

KK-MK23/25/26/27 (1999)

KK-MJ23/26 (1999)

KK-ME17 (2002)

PA-MK17/25/27 (2005)

PA-MJ26 (2005)

PA-ME17 (2005)

MK217 in Hong Kong operated by KMB

Aero Midi One-step KC-MK219J

Aero Midi KC-MJ218FVF

Aero Midi PA-ME17DF

Aero Midi Non-step PA-MK27FM

Aero Midi-S (2008-present)

The Aero Midi-S is a rebadged Nissan Diesel Space Runner RM and Nissan Diesel Space Runner JP.

PDG-AR820 (2008)

PDG-AJ820 (2008)

Aero Midi-S AR PDG-AR820GAN

Aero Midi-S AJ Non-Step PDG-AJ820NAN

Model lineup

MK Tour 9m

MK Line Non-step bus 10.5m, 9m

MK Line One-step bus 9m

MJ Tour 7m

ME Line Non-step bus 7m

See also

Mitsubishi Fuso Truck & Bus Corporation

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Fuso Aero Midi

Mitsubishi Fuso Aero Midi Japan

MK Tour

MK Line

ME Line

Mitsubishi Fuso Aero Midi Worldwide “MK”

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Domestic Japan

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Outside Japan

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Categories: Bus stubs | Buses | Mitsubishi Fuso vehicles

To cab-forward or not, the debate continues. Julian Milnes test drives Mitsubishi’s take on the design for Roadtransport.com. For used Mitsubishi Fuso Canter trucks for sale, visit www.roadtransport.com
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