Isuzu Trucks to test hybrid vehicle in Durban

Isuzu Trucks South Africa (ITSA) will test its first hybrid truck in the country in October, says ITSA COO Craig Uren.

The hybrid electric vehicle will be tested within a customer's actual operation, in Durban, within an urban cycle, he explains.

“The customer has access to good fuel, and is known for his good maintenance practice.”

What makes the small Isuzu truck different from other hybrid trucks, says Uren, is that it can operate without the battery, using the diesel engine alone.

“Our intention is to introduce the truck locally, should the hybrid perform well under local conditions."

Uren says the six-ton truck with a three-ton payload can offer customers a 25% saving on their fuel bill.

He says it is ideal for use in cities, for example in stop-start operations such as garbage collection.

Uren does not want to suggest what the price of the hybrid may be – with hybrids on average significantly more expensive than internal combustion engine vehicles of the same specifications – noting only that it “will not be cheap”, as government does not offer rebates on the use of hybrid vehicles as is the case in many countries abroad.

This article was originally published on www.engineeringnews.co.za