Fort Worth testing ground for hybrid garbage trucks

by Erin Rice

Fort Worth and Waste Management today unveiled two of their new, greener garbage trucks to a sparse crowd of local media. Of course, "unveil" is a strong word since four of the hybrid trucks have already been on the road for about six months, according to Brian Boerner, Director of Environmental Management for the City of Fort Worth. Currently, the city is testing the new technology to determine whether the hybrids are efficient and reliable while carrying out the otherwise mundane task of waste collection. If the test phase is successful, use of these vehicles is one step towards Waste Management's environmental sustainability goals announced last year.

The Technology

The trucks are Peterbilt 320 vehicles employing Hydraulic Launch Assist. Developed by the Eaton Corporation, this technology captures and stores energy created when the vehicle brakes, then reuses that energy to accelerate the truck to its next stop. Hybrid vehicles employing this technology are an ideal fit with the waste management industry since garbage trucks brake and accelerate so many times during daily operation.

The Glamour?

The unveiling (sans dramatic curtains) was dominated by suits, as everyone from Fort Worth Mayor Moncrief to CEOs from all the companies involved had their chance to speak to the small crowd (in total, there couldn't more than 30 people milling about). When the mayor had his chance at the mic, he stressed the connection between the quality of life for Fort Worth residents and the quality of the air they breathe. "We've come together the Fort Worth way," he told those in attendance, speaking to the cooperation between the city, Waste Management, Eaton, and Peterbilt.

Though it was a little anticlimactic to introduce the vehicles after they've already been in operation for half a year, the city wanted to make sure they'd tested them enough to determine whether the results were headed in the right direction. Full results will be tallied in early 2009, and as such, Waste Management won't confirm any plans to incorporate the new hybrids into their fleet. However, if the hybrids prove to be economically viable, they will replace their fleet through regular turnover, as opposed to replacing all the vehicles at once.

After all the speakers had their ceremonial say, a few Waste Management employees gave a demonstration of the new vehicles. By demonstration, of course, they drove a few circles around the parking lot. Since the technology within wasn't exactly visible through the decorative outside, the only observation one could make was that the garbage trucks ran like garbage trucks. They sounded about the same, perhaps a little smoother running than some of the older monsters trolling your trash. They also made all four laps around the parking lot. But they're cleaner running since it takes less fuel to accelerate them. So, that's good, right?

• Staff
• Verified User
• Anonymous