Peterbilt shows 12.9-liter PACCAR engine

Oct. 1, 2007
Peterbilt displayed both heavy-duty and medium-duty trucks with the new PACCAR engines during the 2007 Great American Trucking Show that was held August

Peterbilt displayed both heavy-duty and medium-duty trucks with the new PACCAR engines during the 2007 Great American Trucking Show that was held August 23-25 in Dallas, Texas. The PACCAR 12.9-liter engine that still is undergoing testing and development drew considerable attention.

Developed by PACCAR's European DAF unit, the 12.9-liter engine was displayed in a Peterbilt Model 388 test truck. This truck, along with a fleet of Peterbilt vehicles, is currently undergoing extensive testing and evaluation at the PACCAR Technical Center in Mount Vernon, Washington. The 12.9 Liter engine has horsepower ratings up to 510 hp and a maximum torque rating of 1,850 lb-ft.

PACCAR engine products also on display included:

  • The PACCAR PX-6 engine produces up to 325 horsepower and a torque rating of 750 ft-lb. The PX-6 is currently available on Peterbilt's medium-duty cabover Models 210 and 220 as well as conventional Models 325 and 330.

  • The PACCAR PX-8 engine offers maximum power rated up to 330 hp and maximum torque at 1,000 ft-lb. The PX-8 is available on Models 330, 335, and 340.

  • The PACCAR 9.2 Liter engine is currently available in Europe, with ratings up to 360 hp and a maximum torque of 1,070 lb-ft.

Peterbilt also discussed the latest developments in its hybrid truck technology program during GATS. The company announced that it would launch full production of medium-duty hybrid vehicles as early as March 2008.

Peterbilt will offer two medium-duty hybrid configurations — the Model 330 hybrid electric for pick-up and delivery applications and the Model 335 hybrid electric for stationary PTO applications.

Peterbilt's Class 6 hybrid electric system, developed in conjunction with Eaton Corporation, is a Model 330 for pick-up and delivery applications. The Model 330 is powered by the PACCAR PX-6 engine rated at 240 hp and 560 ft-lb of torque. With the hybrid system engaged, horsepower increases to 300 and torque to 860 ft-lb.

This configuration is ideal for stop-and-go use, such as urban pick-up and delivery, with the hybrid system resulting in 30% to 40% greater fuel savings by using electric power to accelerate the vehicle from a stop.

Peterbilt's Class 7 hybrid electric system uses a Model 335 for stationary PTO applications. The truck is powered by the PACCAR PX-6 engine, which regenerates lithium-ion batteries to electrically operate the PTO. Fuel use, emissions, and noise are greatly reduced.

During typical stationary operation of the PTO, the engine needs to run only about 1/6th of the time versus non-hybrid vehicles. The engine automatically starts to regenerate the batteries, which takes approximately 4.5 minutes.

In addition to the two medium-duty hybrid vehicles, Peterbilt also is actively developing and testing technology for two heavy-duty hybrid configurations — a hybrid electric heavy duty vehicle for long-haul applications and a hydraulic hybrid heavy duty vehicle for vocational and stop-and-go applications.