Leading the Way
International Truck and Engine Corporation is
the first company to begin line production of
hybrid commercial trucks. As diesel fuel prices
continue their volatility and engine emissions
requirements tighten, International presents the
International® DuraStar™ Hybrid, a diesel hybrid
electric medium-duty truck that provides
customers with improved fuel efficiency and
reduced engine emissions. Among the first to
drive these forward-thinking trucks is Florida
Power and Light (FPL), one of the largest
utilities in the United States.
The International
DuraStar Hybrid has the proven capability to
provide dramatic fuel savings—from 30 to 40
percent on standard in-city pickup and delivery
applications. That fuel efficiency can increase
to more than 60 percent in utility-type
applications when the engine can be shut off but
electric power still operates the vehicle.
For example, diesel emissions are completely
eliminated when the hybrid truck operates
equipment (like overhead utility booms) solely
on the truck's battery power, instead of
allowing the engine to idle.
Government Incentives
One of the key challenges facing the trucking
industry is the high initial cost to bring
hybrid technology to market. As International
builds scale, hybrid truck prices are expected
to decrease dramatically. In the meantime, many
customers are working to secure government
funding to help offset the cost of this new
technology. Incentives are available on both the
Federal and State level, and the Energy Policy
Act of 2005 can provide tax credits of up to
$12,000 per unit. To find out more about these
incentives, visit the
U.S. Department of Energy’s
Office of Energy Efficiency website.
Tracking Hybrid Performance
One major advantage for International's hybrid
product is the company's Diamond Logic
Electrical system, which integrates the body
equipment and the hybrid power-train so they can
work as a single piece of equipment.
Additionally, the International DuraStar Hybrid
can be equipped with International's AWARE
vehicle intelligence system to allow for
real-time data collection, reporting, and
analysis.
Click here
to learn more about the Diamond Logic Electrical
system.
