North American Market Experiences for Class 5 Hybrid Box Truck 2016-01-0414

The Aisin A465 6-Speed Diesel Hybrid powertrain started production in early 2012 and is available in the North American market in the Hino 195h DC COE truck. The suitability, and added fuel efficiency, of a Hybrid powertrain for Class 5 Box truck is very dependent on fleet usage conditions and duty cycle. Aisin has undertaken real-world, extended mileage, durability testing on public roads to determine the operational modes for which such a powertrain is most suitable, and for which a fleet owner can expect fuel savings that will result in a payback period justifying the higher cost of a hybrid system equipped commercial truck. Data collected on the same Aisin proprietary durability test routes with a Conventional Class 3-5 Cab Chassis truck provides insights into truck usage parameters that differ between Hybrid and Conventional Class 3-5 commercial trucks. Comparison of relevant portions of the standardized test cycle illustrates operating advantages and short-comings of the two powertrains, and allows for the development of vehicle test methods to evaluate future Hybrid powertrain configurations for Commercial Trucks in this class for suitability for a given intended duty cycle and understand the potential return on investment on the added hybrid system cost.