In an effort to double fuel efficiency over the next six years, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Feb. 2 it will test hybrid Peterbilt trucks developed by Eaton Corp.
Peterbilt, a division of Paccar Inc., will supply five heavy-duty trucks with diesel-electric power systems, four trucks that will be retrofitted to operate on liquid natural gas and one yard truck that will also run on LNG.
In 2005 Wal-Mart announced plans to double its fleet fuel efficiency by 2015. Since then, the company has reduced fuel consumption by more than 25%, the company said. Wal-Mart attributes the gains to new technologies, improved delivery routes and more efficient trailer loading.
In addition to testing hybrid trucks, Wal-Mart also plans to pilot trucks that run on waste cooking grease in 2009.
For more information about Paccar's past efforts to develop hybrid trucks, see the IW story "Paccar Trucks: Building a Heavy-Duty Supply Chain."
