Hydraulic hybrid cars are
outfitted with a newly re-developed technology, where mechanical and
hydraulic components are being used instead of electric parts. There is
a variable displacement pump, which is a device converting mechanical
energy into hydraulic energy, hydraulic energy being the same as fluid
energy. This pump replaces the generator or the motor. Instead of the
batteries, a hydraulic accumulator, storing the energy as highly
compressed nitrogen gas, is being used. This technology was developed
by Volvo Flygmotor for use in buses. This accumulator is actually a
high pressure tank and is much cheaper and durable than batteries. The
initial idea encompassed a huge flywheel for storage purposes, which
was linked to a hydrostatic transmission. This has proven to be a very
unfeasible solution, much better systems were developed once a
hydraulic accumulator was linked with the pump, actually the motor.
Because of the bulky built it was predestined to usage in heavy
vehicles, like buses, trucks and similar. Already in 1968, Hybrid-Drive
Systems' Jim O'Brien has converted a VW Beetle into a hydraulic hybrid
car, for testing purposes. The fuel economics and practically non
existing emissions have sparked high interest with the Environmental
Protection Agency, which approached the Eaton Corporation in order to
make some hybrid hydraulic trucks for testing purposes, which are then
forwarded to United Parcel Service, UPS, for usage as delivery trucks.
Ford Motor Company is currently developing a hydraulic hybrid car,
tentatively named Hydraulic F-150, which is supposed to propel the new
hybrid technology into the pickup market. The Ford F-350, the Mighty
Tonka, was such an exhibition model, which was shown at a truck show
back in 2002, and featured the Eaton system.
The Eaton Corporation is an industrial manufacturing company which has
several divisions handling vehicles and hydraulics. It was founded in
1911 by Joseph O. Eaton, where the company name and the basic structure
changed significantly over the years. The Eaton Corporation received
recognition for their work in the environmentally friendly
transportation ventures, in 2008 the company received the CALSTART Blue
Sky Award. Back in 2004, Peterbilt, actually the Peterbilt Motors
Company, a Texan heavy duty truck company, and Eaton joined forces to
develop and manufacture refuse trucks which are supposed to use the
hydraulic hybrid system developed by Eaton. The Environmental
Protection Energy did not only encourage and assist the Eaton
Corporation with their hydraulic hybrid efforts, the Ford Motor Company
is another partner receiving government help and assistance with the
development of the new kind of hybrid car. This high efficiency vehicle
principle is supposed to essentially redesign fuel economy and is
expected to be used in SUVs and light trucks as well.

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