Kalmar embarks on clean air initiative

Kalmar will contribute to the two-year project by supplying the units and providing the R&D required to outfit them with the new technology. The terminal tractors will use a diesel-hydraulic system that combines the cleanest available diesel engine technology with components that use hydraulic fluid compression to store energy. The hybrid technology is expected to improve the vehicles’ fuel efficiency by 50–60%, reduce or eliminate emissions during idling and decrease brake wear.

Stefan Johansson, Vice President of Trailer Handling for Kalmar, said: “The decision to develop hybrid terminal tractor technology on the US East Coast reflects US ports’ commitment to cleaner operations. Kalmar is at the forefront of R&D when it comes to environment-conscious products.”

Kalmar is also contributing to a two-year hybrid terminal tractor project launched at the end of 2006 with the West Coast Collaborative, an EPA-sponsored organisation, and the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Three Kalmar terminal tractors will be equipped with either a hybrid-electric system or a hybrid-hydraulic system that is expected to reduce emissions by 93%.