Hydraulic Hybrid Developer Gets a $3.4M Grant - 11/14/08

Hybra-Drive started with a converted a 1965 Volkswagen Beetle.

The small firm is making headway in developing cleaner alternative propulsion systems for commercial vehicles using hydraulic technology.

Hybra-Drive Systems recently was one of the 17 companies that were winners of the Michigan 21st Century Jobs Fund.  The $3.35 million award is the largest award given for the 2008 funding.

Hybra-Drive is developing hydraulic hybrid power trains for military and commercial vehicles.  Big names like Eaton Corp “who builds hydraulic systems”, Peterbilt, and the EPA are paying attention to their technology that improves the fuel economy for large vehicles.

Hybra-Drive also won the Hybrid Truck Users Forum, which intends to speed the technology to the market. 

Under the agreement, Hybra-Drive will build three hydraulic delivery trucks for FedEx, UPS, and Purolator Courier.  All three will conduct a 6 to 9 month test of the vehicles.

Like electric hybrids, hydraulic hybrids pair with gasoline or diesel engines.  Unlike electric hybrids that use very expensive batteries that must be replaced every few years, hydraulic hybrids use accumulators and a hydraulic pump replacing generators.

The system works like a continuously variable transmission.  It depends on pressurized hydraulic fluid with varying amounts of pressure. 

Hybra-Drive claims its simple design can deliver up to 60 percent better fuel economy and a 90% reduction in emissions.  The system has no additional weight and takes up relatively a small amount of space.  It avoids replacing expensive batteries.

Hybra-Drive recently won a $1.6 million federal defense contract to develop lightweight hybrid transmissions for future combat systems. 

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