Power hungry
Any serious contender for the race to an alternative fuel for commercial transport has to pass the test of large-scale sustainability and infrastructure. Brian Tinham reports
Presidential address
SOE president Chris Grime talks to John Challen about industry and technology challenges and the importance of teamwork in achieving acceptable transport solutions
Next-gen gas trucks to tackle climate change?
Despite the setbacks with gas trucks – and particularly dual-fuel methane-diesel – revealed in last month’s report on the Low Carbon Truck Trial (page 34), this game must surely be far from over. Not only are next-generation OEM advances countering irksome efficiency losses and power limitations, but also aftermarket converters are hinting at solutions to crippling methane slip.
On top of your game at the IRTE Conference
We live in perplexing times. Not just hybrid, but full-electric heavy trucks are finally moving from concept to reality. Platoons and autonomous vehicles are not far behind. Alternative fuels are in the ascendant. The list goes on.
Refreshed engineering
‘Euro 7’ is likely to focus on CO2, but also further driving down NOx and particulates. Brian Tinham listened to Ricardo luminaire Andy Noble on how to make powertrains cleaner and more efficient
Riding on hydrogen
London's hydrogen bus fleet has been running for more than 18 months now. David Yorke, future vehicle technology manager at First Group, talks about the experience to John Challen
Riding the range
While range extenders have yet to gain traction in the UK, US-based Mack Trucks has teamed up with Wrightspeed to evaluate its hybrid electric powertrain on a refuse chassis. Brian Weatherley reports
Safety in numbers
Fleet engineers choosing from the array of competing money-saving interventions now have evidence-based, independent data on tap. Brian Tinham reports from the Centre for Sustainable Road Freight
In or out, fleet operators need help and stability
As we go to press, the UK’s population is poised to cast its vote in what’s widely seen as the most momentous referendum for generations. When you read this, of course, we’ll all be enduring the post-mortem and finger pointing. But, whether in or out of Europe, the future for transport looks as tough as ever.
IRTE column January 2010 issue
It's fair to say that most operators aren't the biggest fans of biodiesel. While the fuel may be greener than your average barrel of bulk diesel, there are many unknowns – and stories such as this one from Halifax haven't helped matters. When the council there decided to switch its bus fleet from regular diesel to a fish-oil-based biodiesel from 2004, mechanical problems arose, and it was only after several years of refinement that conversion of the entire fleet was completed.