HYLIION develops add-on hybrid system for semi trailers; Innovation here is the way of applying hybrid tech to trailers

Hyliion has developed an add-on hybrid system for tractor-trailers that will reduce fuel consumption by about 30% with a return on investment of less than one year, according to Thomas Healy, CEO and founder of the Pittsburgh, PA-based startup.

Hyliion’s add-on hybrid electric drive system for tractor trailers

“What makes our system unique is that we solely focus on the trailer,” Healy said to Off-Highway Engineering. “We replace the existing rear axle assembly under the trailer with an electric propulsion system. So now what happens is when the vehicle is slowing down or going downhill, we’re able to capture all that wasted energy and store it in the battery pack on the trailer.”

When the truck accelerates or starts an uphill stretch, the system drives the rear tires on the trailer. “So the diesel engine in the truck doesn’t have to work as hard, there’s not as much load it needs to pull,” he said.

The intelligent electric drive axle system was recently awarded the grand prize in the 2016 “Create the Future” Design Contest produced by Tech Briefs Media Group, beating out more than 1100 product ideas from 71 countries. The contest was co-sponsored by COMSOL and Mouser Electronics, with Analog Devices and Intel serving as supporting sponsors.

Most conventional hybrid strategies integrate an electric motor into the drivetrain of the truck. “Since we don’t integrate right into the drivetrain, you can keep all that existing equipment and not make any modifications to it. We’re getting the benefits of a hybrid system but with an add-on solution,” Healy said.

Essentially, Hyliion is turning a passive axle into a drive axle. “It’s like taking one of the axles off the truck and putting it on the trailer,” he explained. “So now we have a drive axle that we can apply positive and negative torque, with an electric motor connected to the axle.” The electric motor is connected to a control system with a lithium-based battery pack.

The company leverages existing components to help bring the product to market faster. For example, the axle is a production component that’s already been tested and has the weight rating certifications needed to travel over the road.

The system can be installed on nearly every trailer type in less than one hour, the company claims, without changing trailer height or length.

The electric drive axle system is categorized as an auxiliary power unit (APU), capable of powering auxiliaries overnight such as electronics and air-conditioning. Even though the system adds about 500 lb (227 kg) to a tractor-trailer, “the government in most states allows you to carry anywhere from 400-450 extra pounds of payload if you’re running an APU. So it’s really not netting much of a loss of cargo that you can carry,” Healy said.

The electric drive axle doesn’t have any data communication with the truck. The system’s sensors are able to determine when to apply power and when to capture energy. It does have cellular communication and satellite, so the vehicle can be tracked.

“From a fleet standpoint, you can look at how fast your trailers are moving and where they’re located, and we can do things like tell you how much load is in the trailer,” Healy said.

Information is available to the driver via a mobile dashboard application. The driver has the ability to turn the system on and off.

“Our single product is able to propel you above those mandated requirements,” said Healy. “We see it being a perfect solution for this new Phase 2 mandate that’s coming out. From a timing standpoint, it couldn’t be better.”

Hyliion currently has six trucks running with its system for internal testing and validation. “The next phase is we’ve got over 30 fleets that have signed into our pilot program that we’re going to start delivering units to before the end of this year,” he said.

In-house production of the electric drive axle system is expected to begin Q1 2017, and the company is lining up outsourced production for higher volumes in Q2 2017.

“Our next big milestone is really setting up the production,” Healy shared. “There is a lot of demand in the industry for a product like this…How can we manage all the production and supply chain so that we can grow at a very fast pace and get our partners alongside us to grow at the same rate? Our mindset is scaling up production as fast as possible to as high a volume as possible.”

Via: SAE

Hyundai to offer IONIQ EV as subscription vehicle through WaiveCar ; Thanks to advertising dollars for first 2 hours free usage

Hyundai IONIQ as a subscription vehicle by WaiveCar. Image Credits: prnewswire.com

LOS ANGELES /PRNewswire/ — Hyundai Motor and WaiveCar, the world’s first all-electric car-sharing program that runs on advertising dollars, today announced a partnership that will expose millions of shoppers to the all-new Hyundai IONIQ electric compact car for free.

The partnership, proposed by WaiveCar as part of Hyundai’s Project IONIQ open call, gives consumers the ability to drive IONIQ EVs on-demand for two hours at no charge. In exchange, the vehicle is wrapped in advertising and includes a roof mounted digital display, which generates the advertising revenue WaiveCar uses to offset costs. WaiveCar’s digital displays are 4G connected enabling dynamic, geo-targeted advertising tailored to ones driving location and time of day. For example, while sitting in morning traffic on the 405 freeway, the ad could read, “This commute would be a lot more comfortable in a Hyundai IONIQ.”

“WaiveCar presents some great solutions for us,” said Mark Dipko, director of corporate planning and strategy at Hyundai Motor America. “The IONIQ offers emissions-free transportation to on-the-go Angelenos. This partnership allows us to reach potential customers and give them the opportunity to test drive our outstanding IONIQ electric while generating awareness for the IONIQ brand at the same time.”

The program, which will launch in early 2017, is Hyundai’s first large-scale involvement in car-sharing and is aimed at making it easy for those without a vehicle to access short-term, free, and engaging transportation. Customers can simply download WaiveCar’s app for iPhone or Android, find an IONIQ near them, book it and start driving — no cards or keys necessary. WaiveCar then unlocks the door for consumers remotely, where they can find the keys inside. Insurance is also part of the all-inclusive-deal.

Users can drive an IONIQ for free for 2 hours at a time. They can continue to drive for just $5.99 an hour or return the car at any designated spot for the next user to pick up. This free floating car-sharing model allows more users to use the same car, which reduces congestion and pollution on a much larger scale.

WaiveCar plans to add 150 IONIQs which will be deployed throughout Los Angeles in the first half of 2017. WaiveCar is planning to launch in three additional cities by the end of 2017 using 250 more IONIQs.

“We are extremely excited to be working together with Hyundai,” said Zoli Honig, WaiveCar’s CTO & Co-Founder. “Providing low cost, eco-friendly transportation alternatives to consumers is our core mission and offering the IONIQ will accelerate that goal. We believe this partnership will be tremendously beneficial for Hyundai, WaiveCar, our customers, and the environment.”

Hyundai IONIQ
The IONIQ line of cars are designed and optimized to give customers an easy transition to environmentally-responsible mobility. The IONIQ is available in three distinct electrified powertrains: the IONIQ electric, IONIQ plug-in and IONIQ hybrid. Regardless of powertrain choice, the platform accommodates five-passengers comfortably and provides the largest cargo capacity in its class. The IONIQ electric models that will go into the WaiveCar fleet provide an EPA-estimated 124 miles of range, and offer Apple CarPlay®, Android Auto® and wireless charging for smartphones.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA
Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 830 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes the 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable new vehicle limited warranty, Hyundai’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty and five years of complimentary Roadside Assistance. Hyundai Blue Link Connected Care provides owners of Hyundai models equipped with the Blue Link telematics system with proactive safety and car care services complimentary for one year with enrollment. These services include Automatic Collision Notification, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Vehicle Diagnostic Alert, Monthly Vehicle Health Report and In-Vehicle Service Scheduling.

Via: prnewswire