Following an initial order that proved successful in on-road operation, Miami-Dade County (FL) has placed an order for 29 additional Autocar E3 refuse trucks featuring Parker Hannifin’s fuel saving RunWise technology.
“We have invested significantly in the development of this technology and to see its benefits be proven out in the marketplace is very rewarding,” said Jeff Cullman, president – hydraulics group for Parker. “Miami-Dade has seen some tremendous results with their test fleet and we are pleased they have made such a strong commitment to the technology with this large order. While they were able to secure federal EPA funding for half of this order, investing their own money demonstrates the positive economics and payback on the technology as a stand-alone purchase.”
Miami-Dade used funding from the U.S. EPA to purchase 15 of the vehicles as part of the National Clean Diesel Campaign’s Emerging Technologies List.
“We’ve been very pleased with the overall performance of the vehicles with RunWise technology, said Danny Diaz, director of fleet management for Miami Dade County. “The savings we are seeing is significant when you look at the long-term with these hybrid trucks.”
The RunWise technology uses regenerative braking to reuse as much as 71% of the vehicle’s braking energy for power. According to Parker, the system provides fuel savings of between 35 and 50%. Additional benefits include reduced maintenance costs, less engine wear and tear as well as extended brake life, the company added.