XL Hybrids, an American company based in Boston, Massachusetts, which is regarded as the leading developer and provider of simple, smart, and sustainable fleet of electrification solutions for the commercial vehicle market, has taken its act to the competitive American pickup truck market.
The company has found a way to upfit standard fuel-powered vehicles into hybrids in order to enable them as well to enjoy improved fuel efficiency while reducing their emissions too.
It has become the mantra of XL Hybrids that improving fuel efficiency does not necessarily require the creation of a new vehicle, notes the Green Car Reports.
The company markets modification solution to enable fleet buyers to upfit their vehicles into hybrids but thus far, most of its efforts were focused on hybrid powertrains for vans, box trucks, and shuttle buses.
Hybridization system for pickup trucks
Of late, however, XL Hybrids had launched a new plug-in hybrid system specifically for pickup trucks and the company has already gotten a large order from San Diego Gas & Electric, an electric utility company in California.
Known as the XLP, the system leaves the original internal-combustion engine, transmission, fuel system, and exhaust intact. The set-up allows the owners to retain the factory powertrain warranty.
The XLP adds an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack with a capacity of over 10 kilowatt-hours, according to XL Hybrids. It should be noted that the add-on items actually weigh 650 pounds which are in addition to the original weight of the vehicle.
The XLP promises to reduce fuel consumption by up to 50% according to XL Hybrids. The company explained that the recharging of the battery pack from a 240-volt AC Level 2 source takes less than one hour, but did not mention an electric-only driving range.
XL Hybrids also did not delineate which specific truck models will accept the XLP powertrain modifications, only saying the setup was designed for half-ton pickup trucks from leading OEMs.
Observers and critics have thus noted that the XLP of XL Hybrids would only be applicable to American pickup trucks including the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, and Ram 1500.
Based on projections, the XLP will be delivered beginning in the fourth quarter of next year but it would take three years to complete the 110 hybridizations of pickup trucks from San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) or until 2020.
Onwards to alternative-fuelled vehicles
According to reports, SDG&E hopes to convert more than 20% of its fleet to alternative-fueled vehicles by the end of the decade.
It has already purchased more than 30 plug-in hybrid bucket trucks, which are used to repair damaged power lines.
Those vehicles can operate on battery power while repair work is underway, reducing both emissions and noise, SDG&E pointed out.
SDG&E is also undertaking a project to install 3,500 electric-car charging stations at 350 locations, including businesses and apartment complexes. It is one of three California utilities involved in charging infrastructure expansion projects approved by the state Public Utilities Commission over the past year.
Incidentally, the XLP plug-in hybrid vehicle upfit solution, which will be an industry first, will enable fleet operators to easily begin utilizing plug-in technology.
A 50% increase in fuel economy leads directly to a large decrease in carbon emissions and air pollution, while also reduces operating costs.
Tod Hynes, founder and CEO of XL Hybrids, explained that expanding their offering to include plug-in solutions is the next step in their plan to electrify fleet vehicles with technology that saves money while reducing fuel consumption and emissions, details Clean Technica.
He explained that the XLP system allows fleets to purchase the same, roadworthy OEM pickup trucks they always have, particularly OEM powertrain and warranty fully intact. They will now have a proven electrified powertrain from XL Hybrids to significantly increase fuel efficiency.
Fleet operators and owners will now have peace of mind knowing that their work truck will get the job done, with the same access to existing service infrastructure that fleet have always enjoyed.