It is here that should be the main effort

the heavy weight in France CO2 emissions is 8.7, according to Ademe. And it is progressing, while those related to the cars, the most important, tend to decline. Not surprising, because the traffic is progressing and the piggyback takes off. Result, the trucks are still more than 80 of the transport of goods. Manufacturers of heavy goods vehicles already made the finding. Thus, Renault Trucks has worked on a vehicle laboratory, Optifuel Lab, whose power and aerodynamics are optimized. Either a gain of 13 of consumption from trucks meet the Euro5 standard, came into force last year. But advances begin to cap in the field of the thermal engine and succession is slower than the world of the individual car. Trucks using a hybrid powerplant start just. "The truck market is much narrower than private vehicles and the return on investment in research and development less clear", explains Philippe Grand, "product manager" Irisbus Iveco and Director program Architecture and comfort in the pole of competitiveness LTUB (Lyon Urban Trucks & buses).

Hybrid Garbage dumpsters

In the United States, where the government finance their deployment, hybrid buses are already thousands to roll, for example, school pick-up. In France hybrid Garbage dumpsters arrived only. This vehicle, travelling slowly with incessant stops, but is an ideal application. The kinetic energy during braking is transformed into electricity stored in batteries that power the electric motor coupled to the heat engine. The latter takes the relay only when the speed rises. All manufacturers are. Renault Trucks testing dumpsters in Lyon and promises a consumption of 20 gain. The hybrid urban utilities market, it should eventually start. Even with a 20 higher purchase price. "With the growth of e-commerce, these utilities represent 10 of the urban traffic, but 20 of the occupation on the ground and 40 of the population," said Michel Albrand, founder of Electruckcity. Side consumption, Volvoprévoit them a 30 gain. The U.S. Department of energy is even 50.

Some are more daring with concepts of rupture. Thus with his Sitrum project, developed on its own funds, Segula Technologies engineering firm has devised an "eco-truck" radically new. Of course equipped with a hybrid engine, it would be especially built with a trailing fund - a former technique, devised by Citroen for push-ups before and never implemented for heavy goods vehicles. Yet the benefits are many: a lower center of gravity and a cargo 30 cm from the ground floor. The arrival, better handling and loading operations easier and less dangerous. "You win also 1 metre on the total height." "What makes the much simpler piggyback, because trucks can be loaded on trains without specific infra-structure", insists Didier Coffy, Director R & D of Segula Technologies, who believes that the development of such a product would not take more than two to three years.

For urban trips

Beyond this horizon, it is a fully electric utility for urban routes that focuses the attention. "It is here that should be the main effort." With the all-electric traction, should completely rethink the architecture of the vehicle which will provide new services. Rid of the shaft, the floor will be much lower. "At the time, deliveries are quick and easy", insists Guy Bourgeois, Director General of the Inrets (national Institute for research on transportation and security). This vehicle already exists: it is the Modeultralite. Built by a small British company, it is imported in France by Electruckcity. It is however disabled by its price, twice as a classic utility and modest performance: 80 km/h for a range of 100 kilometres. "If total recharge requires seven hours, it gets 60 charge after 2 hours," said Michel Albrand.

Rapid recharge - the experts speak of "charging" - is one of the tracks studied by Eilisup. Worn by Iribus Iveco and funded by Ademe, this project is to imagine a bus very innovative all-electric whose batteries would be recharged frequently and quickly, end of the line, even in the cases.

Long distance routes pose more problems. Will "not be any better than the thermal engine before long", said Guy Bourgeois.Quant solution hybrid, has no great interest in heavy, less than recharge the batteries continuously. A technically feasible solution for Cédric Philibert, of the International Energy Agency. Could he equip portions of highways very frequented by Catenary heavy weights (for example North Highway). Trucks hybrid, equipped with a trolley (such as trams) would be fed much like destrains. Once the route is completed, it would revert to a hybrid mode. Others are already considering the use of the hydrogen and fuel cell. "Do not dream and let working scientists 20 years", said Guy Bourgeois. Where the interest to continue efforts on transportation combined.