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Hydraulic Hybrids from Rexroth:

Hydrostatic Regenerative
Braking System HRB

Recover Energy – Reduce Emissions

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A Win-Win for Operators and the Environment

Dwindling resources, increasing environmental awareness, and above all, rising fuel prices are affecting business decisions as
never before. The HRB Hydrostatic Regenerative Braking System helps meet increasingly strict environmental regulations –
and reduces operating costs by saving fuel. The HRB system will provide superior return on investment – whether you’re a fleet
operator of refuse trucks or shuttle buses, a construction firm, a municipal operation running school or public transit buses,
or a loading dock or port operator.

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Hybrid Versions 3

Hybrid: Two Pulling Together

“Hybrid” has its origin in the Greek language and means: “Mixture or combination
of two things.” Hybrid vehicles use two types of energy to attain optimum propulsion.
Combustion engine demand is reduced by hybrid technology, giving the user two big
advantages: lower fuel consumption and a significant reduction in emissions. The most
common hybrid technologies are electric and hydraulic hybrids.

Characteristics of an electric hybrid: Characteristics of a hydraulic hybrid:

][ ][

[ [

Excess motor power is continuously accumulated in a battery over The kinetic energy from braking is fed to a hydraulic accumulator
a longer time period (blue) and accessed as needed (light blue). (blue) and immediately reused for starting (light blue).

• High energy density and low power density: The battery can absorb • High power density and low energy density: There are limits to the
a great deal of energy, but the charge time is relatively long, so it is not amount of energy the system can accumulate. However, it takes less time
possible to fully recapture the braking energy. to collect and store this energy, which can be called upon as needed.
• Energy is stored in batteries. • The full braking energy is then fed to a hydraulic accumulator and stored.
• Typically found in passenger cars.
• More detailed information about electric hybrid technology can also be
found at the Bosch Web page www.bosch.de under “Hybrid Technology”.

Hydraulic hybrids are ideal for vehicles with frequent,

short start-stop cycles, such as public transit buses,
refuse trucks, forklifts, pneumatic tire rollers, telehandlers,
swap body movers and much more.

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4 Operating Principles

Innovation and Quality Complement Each Other

The Rexroth focus on high-end hydraulic solutions, and our unique product line, is the basis for the HRB – combining
proven components with a new, innovative braking and drive concept. That means high production quality – and a variety
of existing components allowing Rexroth to tailor a hydraulic hybrid system to your design requirements. We also have
extensive knowledge and experience in electronic control of complex systems. The end result is that we can offer a custom-
tailored hydraulic hybrid powertrain that fits the needs of your application.

Weight matters

High
The HRB stores a vehicle’s kinetic energy,
which would otherwise be lost during
mechanical braking operation. This energy
is then available for powering the vehicle
Refuse Trucks
and reducing primary energy use. To ensure
that the Rexroth Hydrostatic Regenerative
Braking Power (Weight x Deceleration)

Forklifts Braking System reaches its full potential, the

Swap Body Movers
following conditions need to be met:

Public Transit Buses • High vehicle mass and strong, active de-
Trucks celeration for accumulating a large amount
of energy in a short time.
Telehandlers • Frequent starting and braking.
• Low rolling resistance to store the maximum
Wheel Loaders braking energy.

Cars

Low Braking Frequency High

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Advantages of the HRB

Environment Costs
• Fewer harmful emissions, less pollution. • Significant reduction in operating costs.
• Help in meeting future emissions and environmental • Durable Rexroth components reduce maintenance needs.
requirements. • More economical that other hybrid concepts.
• Reduced brake wear, lower braking noise, and less brake dust.

Function Energy
• High functional reliability and low risk of failure. • Reduced fuel consumption to preserve energy.
• Simple maintenance and long service life. • Fuel-neutral system – can be combined with diesel, gasoline,
• Ideal solution for new systems or retrofits. or other types of motors.
• Increased vehicle range.

Optimal energy use with parallel HRB

For heavy vehicles with short, succeeding start-stop cycles,
Rexroth offers the Hydrostatic Regenerative Braking Systems
for capturing the braking energy.
The parallel HRB was developed especially for vehicles
with no hydrostatic drive. The HRB components are
installed in the vehicle as an ancillary system.

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6 System and Advantages

HRB parallel –
for Vehicles with a Mechanical Drive Train
The parallel HRB is a hydraulic hybrid for vehicles with no hydrostatic transmission: For example, vehicles used in refuse
collection and public transit buses. Use of an HRB system results in significant fuel savings of up to 25% and improved
acceleration – depending on the focus of the application.

School Buses Shuttle Buses City Buses

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How the parallel HRB works

Storing braking energy Reusing the stored energy to assist the vehicle drive
The hydraulic axial piston unit 쐃 is coupled to the mechanical drive train through The pressurized hydraulic fluid in the accumulator drives the axial piston unit,
a gearbox 쐇. When braking, the axial piston unit converts kinetic into hydraulic which now acts like a motor. Hydraulic energy is converted into kinetic energy.
energy and pumps hydraulic fluid into the pressure accumulator 쐋, increasing The axial piston unit remains coupled to the mechanical drive train until the pres-
the pressure in the accumulator. sure accumulator is discharged. The valve control block 쐏 controls the filling
and discharge cycle and protects the accumulator from excessive pressure.
The electronic controller 쐄 operates the HRB. In “normal” drive mode the
Hydrostatic Regenerative Braking System is decoupled.

Components of the parallel HRB

Axial Piston Unit A4VSO + Gearbox, Hydraulic Pressure Accumulator, Pressure Relief Valve, Valve Control Block HIC, Electronic Contoller RC

Simulated cost savings using the example of a refuse collection truck*

On a refuse truck (empty weight approximately 16 tons) the use of the parallel
T HRB can result in saving of up to 2.25 liters (0.59 gallons) of fuel per hour.
The annual operating costs can thereby be reduced significantly – without even
taking into account the additional savings potential of reduced brake wear.

Calculated fuel savings for a refuse truck (empty weight 16 t)

during operation
Annual operating hours 1,300 1,820 2,340
The higher the fuel prices, the sooner your HRB pays for itself.
Fuel savings (liters per year) 2,925 4,095 5,265
CO2 reduction (kg per year) 7,750 10,850 13,950
* For the simulation Rexroth uses the “AMESim” simulation tool.

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Bosch Rexroth Corporation
Hydraulics
2730 Research Drive
Rochester Hills, MI 48309
Telephone: (248) 267–4000
Facsimile: (248) 844–2698
www.boschrexroth.com/hrb

Printed in the United States

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