AltWheels Fleet Day 2008: Making the Hybrid -- Staples/Isuzu/Enova Hybrid Delivery Truck

What has hardwood floors, stainless appliances, innovative energy saving technology, and an unlimited international calling plan? Well, yes, that foreclosed McMansion up the street -- but we're more interested in Staples' new hybrid delivery truck. As gold sponsors and first-time hosts of AltWheels Fleet Day, Staples was given ample time to show off their joint venture with Enova and Isuzu, one of two hybrid delivery trucks currently running in Boston and Los Angeles.

The hybrid trucks are an example of how innovations can happen when a big customer demands more efficiency from a  product. "We have a ball working with OEMs," Staples Fleet Director Mike Payette told Wired.com. "I flew to Japan and told Isuzu they need to bring a hybrid truck to the US if they want to compete." Now, instead of an Easy Button, this Staples truck has a green "hybrid" button that turns on the battery-electric motor that's located after the transmission. It also has some pretty clever weight saving technology that makes life easier for drivers. Lots of details and photos after the jump.

Hybrid-Electric drivetrain

The hybrid powertrain is made by Enova systems and then installed on already-built Isuzu trucks. "That way, Isuzu can continue to produce their trucks the way they always do in Japan," Payette said. A radiator (shown above) in the front keeps the giant NiMH battery temperature neutral so it can power the 85 hp electric motor (shown below) that helps the hybrid truck dash away from curbs like Sarah Palin from the media. Of course, since the electric motor has such a flat torque curve and is located after the transmission, it's not currently running at full power. "We had to start it at 15 percent power so it didn't tear up the rear end," Payette said. "Then, we can tweak up more power as it breaks in." How do engineers know when to turn it up to eleven?

Full research vehicle

See that pink cellphone wedged behind the computer packs? Like a lonely college freshman, this Class 6 truck likes to call home a lot. The phone is constantly relaying data to and from Isuzu headquarters in Japan and occasionally calls engineers to say, "Scotty, I need more power!" Isuzu will take that data for use in future hybrid applications. Staples' fleet is a good research partner, said Isuzu's Chip Taylor. "They measure everything consistently. It's a symmetrically managed fleet," he told Wired.com. Both Taylor and Payette are looking forward to seeing how the truck fares in a New England winter.

They carry PAPER back there?

Nothing but the finest apatong hardwood floors and steel interior (above) would do when it comes to carrying file cabinets, whiteboards, and motivational posters. Sure, it's expensive to install that stuff, but the equipment will outlast three truck cabs and can still be resold after that, which cuts down on waste. You know those big metal locks they use to close the doors of delivery trucks? Apparently those are called "banana locks" and weigh a lot (insert juvenile humor here). This truck has a fully powered electric door with LED lights and a motor system (below) that weighs the same as one of those banana locks, but also lets drivers pop the trunk and open the side door with a remote. That interior helps the truck weigh in at 800 lbs. less than its diesel-only counterpart.

Performance and fuel-efficiency numbers are classified until the rear end is broken in, but Payette says that so far Staples is "very pleased" with the truck's performance. Having been stuck behind diesel-belching delivery vans in Boston traffic, we're hoping he's pleased enough to order more.

Photos: Wired.com