A new bucket that doesn't smoke
CVPS rolls out New England’s first hybrid bucket truck
May 16, 2008
RUTLAND -- Central Vermont Public Service today unveiled the first hybrid bucket truck in New England in an effort to study and expand reliance on high-efficiency hybrid and plug-in vehicles.
“We believe this will be the utility truck of the future,” President Bob Young said. “We’re eager for that future, a future with fewer emissions and lower costs for customers.”
Dan Mackey, fleet manager for CVPS, and Carl Machia, chief line worker, showed students the new vehicle at schools in Rutland Town and Milton.
Mackey said the vehicle costs more "up front," but the lifetime costs are expected to be 23 percent lower than a regular bucket truck. He said the hybrid truck will use up to 60 percent less fuel than a traditional bucket truck, which at CVPS uses an average of $9,000 in fuel annually.
CVPS has utilitzed hybrid technology in recent years, adding 15 small hybrid SUVs to its fleet in 2005.
At low speeds, the hybrid’s electric motor supplies power to assist a smaller diesel engine, increasing fuel economy and reducing emissions. While braking, the torque passing through the transmission turns a generator to recharge the battery. When pulling away, the truck uses the torque created by the electric motor to move the vehicle.
The hybrid truck is a Navistar International 4300 Dura-star series with an International Eaton Hybrid Drive system. The fiberglass body includes 40 percent recycled material, and is 600 pounds lighter than a standard utility truck. The Hybrid truck was purchased through Clark’s Truck Center in Jericho.
follow the link to a video
Is there anyone on from CVPS?
Follow the link to a video looks like a standard boom.
http://www.necn.com/Boston/SciTech/F...210972929.html
May 30, 2007
PSE&G To Replace 1,300 Vehicles With Hybrids
New Jersey’s Public Service Electric and Gas plans to reduce its carbon emissions by more than 81,000 tons by replacing 1,300 vehicles with hybrids and making changes in other areas of its corporate fleet.
During the next decade, the utility will invest in hybrid cars and light trucks, hybrid bucket truck prototypes, electric-drives and alternative fuels.
PSE&G will begin its vehicle replacement program this year. The switch is expected to result in a reduction of 8,500 tons of CO2 and 850,000 gallons of gasoline during the next decade.
As part of the program PSE&G will also become one of the first utilities in the nation using hybrid aerial lifts. Commonly known as bucket trucks, these specialized vehicles allow utility workers to safely assess and repair power lines located high atop utility poles. These new hybrid trucks were just recently introduced to the market with limited availability, but PSE&G has already purchased two and is scheduled to receive them later this year.
While the utility tests the new hybrid lifts for safety and durability, it will be expediting the installation of electric drive units in its 450 traditional aerial lifts. Electric drives allow utility workers to operate the lift, or the bucket, on battery power rather than keeping the engine running. A three-hour reduction in engine idle time per truck per day over the next decade will result in 6.5 million gallons of fuel savings and 73,000 tons of CO2 reduction.
