Readers' Choice Top Technologies of the Year

Readers have selected the ten most interesting stories in SAE Off-Highway Engineering during the past year. They appear in shortened form. Results are based on reader-response choices following feature articles and shorter technology items.

Oshkosh Truck Corp. has unveiled new diesel-electronic propulsion technology known as ProPulse that is designed specifically for the performance demands of heavy-truck applications. The company is a founding partner in the 21st Century Truck Initiative, a cooperative research partnership between government and industry that focuses on improving fuel economy, reducing air pollution, and reducing dependence on petroleum-based fuels through the development of new propulsion technologies, fuel cells, and vehicle design.

Oshkosh plans to integrate this new truck propulsion technology into specialty trucks for defense and commercial customers. Oshkosh is responsible for all phases of ProPulse technology development, from design and testing to integration and production. The company intends to make the technology available in its line of aircraft rescue and fire fighting vehicles within two years. Oshkosh has been working on hybrid electric-drive technology for several years in cooperation with Rockwell Automation and other industrial partners.