Low carbon vehicle technology innovator, Torotrak Group, is working with some of the leading off-highway equipment manufacturers to achieve significant fuel savings on future generations of off-highway vehicles.
The company’s Flybrid flywheel energy recovery system (ERS) features in two programmes currently underway: one with
Though quite separate, both programmes are part government-funded by Innovate UK through the Advanced Propulsion Centre.
Torotrak Group research estimates that fuel savings of between 15-30% could be achieved by off-highway machine operators opting to specify Flybrid ERS, significantly reducing operating costs.
The system achieves the improvement by capturing and re-using energy that is normally wasted during repetitive cycles and operations such as raising and lowering the boom of an excavator or the mast on a fork lift truck; slewing on an excavator, or shuttling between forward and reverse with a loader.
By pre-charging the flywheel, Torotrak Group says that Flybrid ERS can also provide load-levelling, meeting surges in power demand by providing a boost in peak power of between 10kW and 1,000kW, depending on application. This means that smaller engines and those de-rated to below 56kW to meet emissions legislation, can match the performance of more powerful units without incurring the fuel consumption penalty resulting from a bigger engine.
“The low cost of Flybrid ERS provides fuel savings that pay for the technology within the first year of operation,” says Steve Hughes, CEO, Torotrak Group.
Torotrak Group says Flybrid ERS is market-ready.
