Eaton hybrids rack up 30 million miles

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — After a decade, more than 2,400 of Eaton Corp’s hybrid systems are in working use today, with customers accumulating more than 30 million miles of service throughout the world, the company says.

"Eaton hybrid commercial vehicles are true work horses that are helping our customers complete the job at hand while also helping them reduce their fuel consumption and level of pollutants," said Dimitri Kazarinoff, vice president and general manager of Eaton’s Hybrid Power Systems Division. "This milestone has taken 10 years to achieve, but as the technology becomes even more mainstream and the benefits better understood, we are confident that we can reach the next 30 million miles in a fraction of the time."

FedEx accounts for more than five million miles on its Eaton-powered hybrid trucks and vans.

Eaton’s hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid electric, and two hybrid hydraulic power systems are available or in development on truck models including International, Peterbilt, Kenworth, Freightliner, Iveco, DAF, Daimler and Ford. In addition, Peterbilt began offering customers a refuse truck with Eaton’s HLA hydraulic hybrid power system in 2009.