The Phoenix Drives PD550-dual inverter is the main power electronics module used in the MAN Metropolis, an extraordinary truck that will be on display at the eCarTec International Fair for Electric- and Hybrid-Mobility held October 23 to 25, 2012 in Munich. The Metropolis is capable of dealing with heavy-duty transport tasks in a city environment without emissions and almost completely without noise.
The PD550-dual, manufactured by Phoenix International – a John Deere company, is ideal for diesel electric series architectures. The ruggedized packaging has the durability to withstand the environments of construction and mining and is a good fit for on-highway truck use. In order to test the practicality and the economic viability of the vehicle concept, MAN chose one of the toughest types of operation for a heavy truck in an urban environment. The Metropolis will undergo a two-year field test as a refuse collection vehicle for the international environmental-services provider, SUEZ Environnement, in the Antwerp-Brussels region starting at the end of the year.
MAN, in cooperation with Benteler Engineering Services, researched the technical feasibility of the vehicle concept that will be shown at eCarTec. David Gordon, Phoenix Drives customer development manager at Phoenix International states, “Benteler Engineering Services has shown outstanding project leadership which enabled highly-aligned teamwork between the companies involved. Because of this, they were able to deliver a truck that has great performance, clean installation of components, and a solution that is ready for practical use.”
