Parker Hannifin Corporation, the global leader in motion and control technologies, announces that its fleet of refuse trucks equipped with Parker's RunWise Advanced Series Hybrid Drive System is approaching one million miles of operation and continues to achieve positive results as the system gains momentum in the market.
The Autocar E3 refuse trucks equipped with the RunWise system have covered enough ground throughout 75,000 hours of operation to circle the earth over 28 times. Vehicle owners continue to report 99% uptime and fuel savings averaging 43%, reinforcing the performance and reliability of the RunWise system.
"As the fleet reaches this impressive milestone, we are very pleased with the progress we have made and excited for the future of hydraulic hybrid vehicles," says Shane Terblanche, General Manager, Hybrid Drive Systems Division. "The strong performance of the Parker system continues to draw inquiries and orders from numerous municipalities and fleet operators and we will further extend the technology to new platforms and fuel types in the medium- and heavy-duty segment."
As the trucks accumulate miles in operation and consistently provide significant reductions in fuel consumption and emissions, Parker's Hybrid Drive Systems Division has added new customers and received follow-on orders from several fleets already using the system. The City of Orlando, FL, placed an order to test several trucks equipped with RunWise and have placed follow-on orders for more vehicles. The City of New Braunfels, TX, recently submitted a second order as they aim to increase the efficiency of their waste collection fleet. Miami-Dade County in south Florida has been operating Autocar E3 refuse trucks equipped Parker's RunWise technology for several years and placed a significant follow-on order for more vehicles, which were delivered and placed in service in September 2013.
The system also continues to elicit positive testimonials from operators of trucks equipped with RunWise hydraulic hybrid technology, detailing their positive driving experiences and increased route productivity.
"The hybrid truck shifts very smooth, especially compared to a conventional transmission," comments Jonathan Fletcher, a refuse truck operator with Advanced Disposal. "The drive is quick and responsive, without the roughness or noise of a standard truck, so both our drivers and the customers we collect for appreciate the impact RunWise makes."
