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Auto Wal-Mart to Get Hybrid Big Rig
Brandon Hill (Blog) - May 22, 2007 10:00 AM
Print E-mail del.icio.us 121 comment(s) - last by christojojo.. on May 25 at 11:23 AM

Peterbilt Model 386 Hybrid
The Peterbilt Model 386 Hybrid will save an estimated $9,000 USD per year in fuel costs

We have hybrid cars, SUVs, pickups and school buses, so it makes sense that hybrid technology would start filtering into other areas of the automotive segment. Wal-Mart understands the benefits of hybrid technology and is adding a hybrid-diesel Class 8 truck to its stable of transport vehicles.

"The implementation of Hybrid trucks is an encouraging step towards environmental sustainability and the reduction of emissions throughout the industry," said The Pete Store President John Arscott. "Wal-Mart is proving to be a leader in this arena, and The Pete Store is pleased to play a part in such a landmark event within the transportation industry."

A single Peterbilt Model 386 Hybrid will join Wal-Mart's fleet of 230 existing diesel Peterbilts. The Model 306 Hybrid uses an Eaton Hybrid Power System. The hybrid system takes full advantage of regenerative braking and used a motor/generator to complement the existing diesel engine for improved performance. Also, under certain circumstances, the rig can travel solely on battery power. In addition; heating, air conditioning and the rig's electrical system can also be powered solely by batteries.

The Eaton Hybrid Power system is said to improve driving efficiency by five to seven percent -- an estimated $9,000 USD will be saved annually in fuel costs.

Wal-Mart will add more of the vehicles to its fleet in an effort to improve its overall fuel efficiency. "Wal-Mart is careful to consider the civic and environmental impact its operations have in the communities it serves around the world. We are continually looking for new, innovative ways to improve the fuel economy and reduce the emissions of our fleet,” said Tim Yatsko, Wal-Mart senior VP of Transportation.

“We currently operate the Peterbilt Model 386, and we anticipate that the hybrid version will help us move toward our goal to increase our fleet efficiency by 25 percent over the next few years."

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Rolling Back Emissions!
By UppityMatt on 5/22/2007 10:10:36 AM , Rating: 2
Cant say i really like Wal-Marts business practices in general, but its nice to see a company moving their transportation fleet to Hybrids.




RE: Rolling Back Emissions!
By hlper on 5/22/2007 10:36:32 AM , Rating: 5
Yes, but they are only adding one to their fleet.

Warning, rant imminent. Because they are so concerned that people will see them as the heartless corporation they are, they constantly strive to bring us these sound bites to give us a warm fuzzy feeling about their practices. This is why Walmart donates something like $300 million to charity each year, but the families of the Walmart clan have over $100 billion in assets. And, they can't even provide health insurance.

I really am sorry for the rant, but I think consumers need to hold Walmart more accountable, and ignore the publicity stunts. I for one, have not shopped at Walmart in more than 10 years and I encourage everyone to do the same.


RE: Rolling Back Emissions!
By Lonyo on 5/22/2007 10:43:33 AM , Rating: 5
Better to add one than scrap their existing fleet of 230 rigs and instead get 230 new hybrid rigs, which would be much more harmful to the environment.

Why replace everything when most of the stuff is still working? Seems like buying 1 now and testing it, then adding more when they need them is a better plan than buying loads now and then having trucks which are unused.


RE: Rolling Back Emissions!
By therealnickdanger on 5/22/2007 10:51:22 AM , Rating: 3
Agreed. Also, Wal-Mart claims that this truck will save $9,000 in fuel costs, but how much more does this Peterbilt (not Peterbuilt, BTW) tractor cost than a diesel model? I'm going to guess that it costs a hell of a lot more than $9,000.


RE: Rolling Back Emissions!
By Screwballl on 5/22/2007 11:29:46 AM , Rating: 2
So for example a regular diesel truck would cost the company $60K whereas the hybrid cost them $100K... so much for $9K savings... that would mean 4 years of the savings go towards the truck as is but as many truck drivers know, maintenance for these trucks go up exponentially at around the 5 year mark for long haul rigs. Plus as this is hybrid instead of standard diesel, you can figure repairs and maintenance will cost 4-8 times as much....
So much for $$ savings....
Now the environment? The pollution is still being spewed in the air 99% of the time, especially under load. If they have managed to add any usable power then I may have to sign up for alteration of my big block Chevy 454 work truck.


RE: Rolling Back Emissions!
By Soviet Robot on 5/22/2007 4:03:06 PM , Rating: 5
$60k for a rig? Yeah right, a 20 year old used one maybe.


RE: Rolling Back Emissions!
By judasmachine on 5/23/2007 2:22:55 AM , Rating: 2
walmart has the money to spend a 'few' thousand dollars more a rig, especially for the good press it will get them. i agree that they should only buy one, test it, then add as needed. However I think the environment is worth a few extra bucks. Good going wally world. (that's something i don't say too often.)


RE: Rolling Back Emissions!
By PrinceGaz on 5/24/2007 5:05:09 AM , Rating: 2
From the article
quote:
an estimated $9,000 USD will be saved annually in fuel costs

So they'll save a lot more than $9,000 in fuel costs over the life of the vehicle, unless the vehicle only lasts for one year (which I very much doubt).


RE: Rolling Back Emissions!
By hlper on 5/22/2007 11:47:37 AM , Rating: 2
Your point is well taken, it would be a waste to scrap an entire fleet. However, I still the addition of one truck as a publicity stunt like so many other Walmart ploys, but maybe time will prove this skeptic wrong.


RE: Rolling Back Emissions!
By Oregonian2 on 5/22/2007 3:33:44 PM , Rating: 2
Did Walmart file a press release about this or did they just take delivery and the truck industry just reported it (which is what the link'ed report looks like)?

Can't Walmart do anything without being a publicity stunt? Maybe they should only do things that look bad to the press in order to avoid such thoughts about them! Heavens, doing something that looks "good", what horrible thing can Walmart do next?


RE: Rolling Back Emissions!
By Martin Blank on 5/22/2007 12:00:25 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Better to add one than scrap their existing fleet of 230 rigs and instead get 230 new hybrid rigs, which would be much more harmful to the environment.

That's a little melodramatic, don't you think? They wouldn't scrap the existing fleet. Look around at the semis on the road, and you'll see that they do last a while, and there's a lucrative market in used semi tractors. WalMart would sell the existing fleet to someone else, who would happily repaint them and hook them to different trailers.


RE: Rolling Back Emissions!
By porkpie on 5/22/2007 12:48:49 PM , Rating: 2
> " and there's a lucrative market in used semi tractors"

If they sell that semi to someone else, its still on the road burning fuel. Total savings = 0. Less than zero actually, as Wal-Mart would buy a new hybrid to replace it, so there'd actually be more rigs on the road as a result. And if the buyer retired one of their own rigs after the purchase, then you're right back to scrapping a rig, as if Wal-Mart had done it directly.

Wal-Mart is doing the right thing. Replacing the entire fleet for a miniscule fuel savings would be far worse for then environment than what they're doing.


RE: Rolling Back Emissions!
By rudy on 5/22/2007 2:41:42 PM , Rating: 2
What if they replaced their even older even less efficient trucks with newer but not hybrid walmart trucks?


RE: Rolling Back Emissions!
By porkpie on 5/22/2007 2:43:29 PM , Rating: 2
Same principle. If you're only seeing a 5% efficiency increase, then it doesn't make sense to trash the vehicle unless its already close to the end of its service life.


RE: Rolling Back Emissions!
By rudy on 5/23/2007 1:04:36 PM , Rating: 2
The point is adding new trucks does not mean there will be more trucks on the road their can be a chain reaction. I buy a 2007 prius and sell you my 2000 taurus, you sell your 1994 bonneville to a guy who scraps his 1988 olds 88 at the junk yard. A very old less efficient car ended its life everyone got used car money to supplement the purchase of their newer car and things "progressed". There are many times given the depreciation of new products it is better to replace and fetch a higher used pricetag then to bother with servicing an aging vehicle. This is especially true of large companies.


RE: Rolling Back Emissions!
By FITCamaro on 5/22/07, Rating: -1
RE: Rolling Back Emissions!
By porkpie on 5/22/2007 12:50:25 PM , Rating: 4
where do people get this crap? Employee donations are not counted in Wal-Mart's corporate donation total. And no employee is ever "required" to make a donation to get benefits.


RE: Rolling Back Emissions!
By imaheadcase on 5/22/2007 1:01:29 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
where do people get this crap? Employee donations are not counted in Wal-Mart's corporate donation total. And no employee is ever "required" to make a donation to get benefits.


They type walmart in google and take everything as fact from "joe retards walmart site" . rofl.


RE: Rolling Back Emissions!
By FITCamaro on 5/22/2007 3:03:38 PM , Rating: 1
Actually I get it from my mom who is a regional pharmacy manager with Walmart.


RE: Rolling Back Emissions!
By imaheadcase on 5/22/2007 12:57:53 PM , Rating: 3
I work at walmart, so many LIES in these thread I'm not even going to start to correct them.

I will correct the ONE lie that is here, WALMART DOES PROVIDE INSURANCE. They offer THREE types on insurance for that matter.

They also Pay very well if its not your first job, they pay ABOVE min wage if it is your first job, they offer tons of benefits (I saved $142 off a HDTV I bought, I still can't find it cheaper online), good investments, profit sharing, paid breaks, HOUR long lunches, take your job with you if you move, etc.

Call me crazy but that sounds pretty good for someone just looking for a basic job.