Dana tries new braking system

5/16/2003

Toledo's Dana Corp. has signed a preliminary agreement with an Australian technology company to supply a hydraulic regenerative braking and propulsion system for 11-ton military trucks as soon as late 2005, the companies announced yesterday.

Dana will be the first to make the product developed by Permo-Drive Technologies Ltd. and hopes to expand the relationship to other medium and heavy-duty vehicles, said Dana spokesman Jeff Cole.

The system improves fuel economy by up to 30 percent and has other benefits.

By using the system, energy normally lost as heat during braking is captured as pressurized fluid and can be released into the driveline to reduce fuel consumption or provide additional horsepower, according to Permo-Drive.

The system can be retrofitted on existing vehicles, Mr. Cole said.

Dana has not determined where it will make the system, he said.