Primary rear drive in EPA’s hydraulic 

 hybrid UPS demonstration vehicle 

DRAFT – Factsheet

World’s First Full Hydraulic Hybrid in a Delivery Van

Presented in Washington DC

World’s First Full Hydraulic Hybrid in a Delivery Truck 

 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its industry partners unveiled an innovative new technology 

vehicle – the first-ever delivery van with a full series hydraulic hybrid drivetrain in a UPS vehicle. 

 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its industry partners unveiled an innovative new technology 

vehicle – the first-ever delivery van with a full series hydraulic hybrid drivetrain in a UPS vehicle. 

 EPA is leading the development of hydraulic hybrid vehicles. This breakthrough technology can cost-effectively 

reduce emissions and drastically reduce fuel consumption while maintaining or improving performance. 

 EPA is leading the development of hydraulic hybrid vehicles. This breakthrough technology can cost-effectively 

reduce emissions and drastically reduce fuel consumption while maintaining or improving performance. 

 This advanced technology UPS demonstration vehicle achieves: 

9 60-70% better fuel economy in laboratory tests 

9 40% or more reduction in carbon dioxide, the primary 

greenhouse gas 

9 Ability to recoup additional cost for new hydraulic hybrid 

technology in less than 3 years. 

 In a full hydraulic hybrid, a hydraulic drivetrain replaces the 

conventional drivetrain and eliminates the need for a conventional transmission. It increases vehicle fuel economy 

in three ways: it permits the recovery of energy that is otherwise wasted in vehicle braking, it allows the engine to 

be operated at much more efficient modes, and it enables the engine to be shutoff during many operating 

conditions such as when the vehicle is decelerating and stopped at a light. 

 In a full hydraulic hybrid, a hydraulic drivetrain replaces the 

conventional drivetrain and eliminates the need for a conventional transmission. It increases vehicle fuel economy 

in three ways: it permits the recovery of energy that is otherwise wasted in vehicle braking, it allows the engine to 

be operated at much more efficient modes, and it enables the engine to be shutoff during many operating 

conditions such as when the vehicle is decelerating and stopped at a light. 

 A delivery vehicle is an excellent application for hybrid technology since its service cycles involve numerous 

braking events. Hydraulic hybrid technology has significant commercial potential for a wide range of medium-sized 

vehicles such as urban delivery trucks, shuttle/transit buses, and waste disposal vehicles. 

 A delivery vehicle is an excellent application for hybrid technology since its service cycles involve numerous 

braking events. Hydraulic hybrid technology has significant commercial potential for a wide range of medium-sized 

vehicles such as urban delivery trucks, shuttle/transit buses, and waste disposal vehicles. 

 The organizations that contributed to the development of the UPS 

demonstration vehicle are: EPA, Eaton Corporation, UPS, 

International Truck and Engine Corporation, U.S. Army – National 

Automotive Center, and Morgan-Olson. Major technical support 

was provided by FEV Engine Technology, Inc. and Southwest 

Research Institute.

 The organizations that contributed to the development of the UPS 

demonstration vehicle are: EPA, Eaton Corporation, UPS, 

International Truck and Engine Corporation, U.S. Army – National 

Automotive Center, and Morgan-Olson. Major technical support 

was provided by FEV Engine Technology, Inc. and Southwest 

Research Institute.

 Eaton Corporation - played a key role with EPA to develop the 

innovative integrated hydraulic rear-drive used in this UPS 

package vehicle. 

 Eaton Corporation - played a key role with EPA to develop the 

innovative integrated hydraulic rear-drive used in this UPS 

package vehicle. 

 EPA estimates that the added costs for the hybrid components, produced in high volume, for a package delivery 

vehicle have the potential to be less than $7,000, which would be recouped in less than three years by the lower 

fuel and brake maintenance costs. In today’s dollars, the net lifetime savings over this vehicle’s typical 20 year 

lifespan are estimated to be more than $50,000. If fuel prices continue to increase at a faster rate than inflation, the 

lifetime savings would be even greater. 

 EPA estimates that the added costs for the hybrid components, produced in high volume, for a package delivery 

vehicle have the potential to be less than $7,000, which would be recouped in less than three years by the lower 

fuel and brake maintenance costs. In today’s dollars, the net lifetime savings over this vehicle’s typical 20 year 

lifespan are estimated to be more than $50,000. If fuel prices continue to increase at a faster rate than inflation, the 

lifetime savings would be even greater. 

 EPA and UPS plan to evaluate the demonstration vehicle in on-the-road service during 2006. 

 EPA is developing a second UPS demonstration vehicle in a second phase of this partnership in order to explore 

the cost effectiveness of a different full hydraulic hybrid system configuration under a variety of load and driving 

cycle conditions. EPA also plans to install an EPA Clean Diesel Combustion (CDC) engine in the phase 2 vehicle. 

The CDC engine does not need NOx aftertreatment to achieve 2010 NOx standards. 

 EPA is developing a second UPS demonstration vehicle in a second phase of this partnership in order to explore 

the cost effectiveness of a different full hydraulic hybrid system configuration under a variety of load and driving 

cycle conditions. EPA also plans to install an EPA Clean Diesel Combustion (CDC) engine in the phase 2 vehicle. 

The CDC engine does not need NOx aftertreatment to achieve 2010 NOx standards. 

www.epa.gov/otaq/technology June 2006 

 EPA420-F-06-054 

Clean Automotive Technology... Innovation that Works