Massive fuel savings and ultra low exhaust emissions means there is probably a hybrid-drive truck in your future.

And the 2003 Australian Road Transport Suppliers Association Transport Industry Student Prize project should help to maximise fuel and environmental benefits with the new technology.

Monash University engineering student Paul Matheson won the prize with his proposal to develop and validate a computer-based model capable of quantifying fuel savings and environmental benefits of several hybrid drive systems.

Under the microscope will be dynamic Ballina-based Permo-Drive Technologies and their exciting new hydraulic "Regenerative Drive Shaft" (RDS).

ARTSA Chairman Dr Peter Sweatman said, "The RDS prototype has already shown it can reduce fuel consumption by as much as 37 per cent in urban applications - ARTSA is excited about the huge potential of this type of technology in making the trucking industry a better corporate citizen".

The RDS cuts fuel consumption through regenerative braking which stores up the braking energy from its hydraulic retarding effect and then feeds that energy back into the driveshaft when the truck accelerates.

The ARTSA funded research project will use dynamic system modelling to look closely at Permo-Drive's Regenerative Drive Shaft characteristics under all potential operating conditions.

That will assist Permo-Drive to develop optimal control system settings to achieve best system performance in the intended applications.

The ARTSA grant will also allow comparisons between the hydraulic Permo-Drive system and competing hybrid-electric designs and measure reductions in foundation brake wear from the use of regenerative braking.

The hybrid-drive investigation is the second ARTSA sponsored Transport Industry Student Prize awarded for projects to improve safety, productivity and efficiency in the road transport industry.

Mr Matheson is due to report on the results of his project at the next ATA/ARTSA Technical and Maintenance Conference at Moonee Valley Racecourse, Melbourne from 16-18 November 2003.

Further details on ARTSA's Annual Transport Industry Student Prize and other projects are available on http://www.artsa.com.au. hide this