Natural gas gas enginesHybrid
High-horsepower and large-displacement gas heavy trucks have become a hot spot in the market.
Weichai WP15NG gas engine 590 hp, maximum torque 2600 Nm;WP17NG gas engine, displacement 166 litres, 700 hp, 3200 Nm. Jiefang Power 16L gas engine - CA6SX, with a maximum of 660 horsepower and an output torque of up to 3000N·m. Cummins 15L gas engine with a maximum of 580 horsepower.
The reason behind the increase in horsepower should be based on the inherent characteristics of the gas engine, so in addition to increasing the displacement, is there another possibility - the hybrid technology route of the gas engine?
US Hybrid gas engine hybrid.
In May 2022, US Hybrid unveiled a natural gas-powered parallel hybrid powertrain technology for trucks and long-haul trucks at ACT.
After 6 years of research, development, and rigorous testing, the US Hybrid's Natural Gas Powered (CNG RNG) parallel hybrid system technology is suitable for trucks and long-haul trucks, delivering more power, greater range, and a more efficient powertrain than diesel engines or other CNG or renewable natural gas (RNG) alternatives.
The CNG RNG truck has a combined power of 640 horsepower and a maximum torque of 1770 pound-feet. Natural gas engines and motors accelerate uphill and outperform diesel engine alternatives.
A smaller displacement of 8The 9-liter engine runs more efficiently and has 2x the fuel economy of a standard 15-liter engine.
Improvements in CNG engine performance, in parallel with motors with proper control, reduce NOx emissions and fuel consumption required for transient loads.
Tests have shown that 1,000 miles can be driven with each recharge, doubling the range, power and torque of a similar CNG RNG truck.
35 miles (approximately 58 km) of zero-emission operation can be provided at the port or in a designated area.
In addition, the new CNG RNG parallel hybrid system features optional vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) charging technology.
Hypertruck ERX gas engine extended range.
Although Hylion has now abandoned the powertrain business, it has been focusing on gas engine range extender technology in the past.
In 2022, Hyliion and Cummins jointly announced that they will work together to optimize Cummins natural gas engines as generators for use in Hyliion's HyperTruck ERX powertrain.
In August 2023, Hyliion announced the start of production of the Hypertruck ERX system at its headquarters, with deliveries to customers starting later this year, with the goal of delivering 30 Hypertruck ERXs by the end of 2023.
The Hypertruck ERX is an improved powertrain designed to be integrated into the Peterbilt 579 model. Powered by natural gas, it is equipped with a Cummins 12L engine and an electric motor mated to a 2-speed gearbox.
Hyliion is aggressively advancing engineering development to transition to the new 15L Cummins X15N natural gas engine, which is scheduled to launch in 2025.
Behind the cab are two 211 kWh battery packs (sic, estimated to be a total of 211kWh based on all-electric range) that power the Meritor 14 XE e-axle at 670-700 hp. The Hypertruck ERX is typically charged via an on-board generator and regenerative braking, while also allowing for DC fast charging. The gas tank of a natural gas engine is equivalent to a 175-gallon (about 662 liters) fuel tank of a diesel truck.
The fully loaded vehicle has an all-electric range of 75 miles. Using a Cummins natural gas engine as a generator to charge the battery and utilizing features such as regenerative braking, the company says it can have a range of up to 1,000 miles (1,600km) on a fully loaded tractor trailer with a single full CNG.
In addition to the gas engine range extension technology route, in fact, Hyliion has also explored CNG hybrid.
Hiller Truck Tech demonstrated a natural gas electric hybrid Class 8 tractor in June 2020.
The 2015 Freightliner Cascadia has a 12L Cummins natural gas engine with a modified Hyliion electric axle.
The ISX 12G makes only 400 horsepower, but the propulsion assistance provided by the Hyliion e-axle makes it compatible with the heavier payloads required in Canada.
November 2020, ca.t.The transportation company's Freightliner Cascadia is powered by Cummins ISX 12G compressed natural gas (CNG) engines, with the addition of Hyliion's CNG hybrid solution, which includes an 8-kilowatt-hour battery, a 120-horsepower 1,500-pound-ft electric axle and a thermal management system. The hybrid system can be installed on most heavy-duty Class 8 natural gas vehicles.
Kenworth CNG+ electric hybrid truck.
At ACT 2018, Kenworth showcased the Kenworth T680 tractor with a CNG engine parallel hybrid system.
Kenworth T680 HECT
The two powertrains in a parallel hybrid system, the combustion engine and the electric motor, can work separately or drive in harmony at the same time.
The internal combustion engine used in the car is a Cummins ISL G NZ engine fueled by compressed natural gas (CNG). G in the model represents natural gas, which is characterized by the fact that the nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the exhaust gas are lower than those in the general natural gas engine, and are mostly used in urban buses, school buses, and municipal vehicles.
Cummins ISL GNZ natural gas engine
The car uses a lithium battery system, with a pure electric range of about 48 kilometers, and when the battery is low, the natural gas engine continues to drive, and the overall range can reach about 402 kilometers.
In terms of parallel hybrid systems, Kenworth Trucks' partner is BAE Systems, a world-renowned military company. The system features energy management and control to ensure that the energy generated by the engine and braking energy** system can be properly distributed by the twin-rotor motor, reducing fuel consumption.
The BAE parallel hybrid system can be used with diesel engines and CNG engines.
point of view
The electric drive should be able to improve horsepower and transient response.
After the gas engine is rolled out, is it time to roll in?When will fuel economy be emphasized in gas engines?
The cost of the HDPI route should not be low either.