Moo-ving the Market for Hybrid Trucks
November 2, 2009 | Posted by Jana Holt in Transportation
This month, Oakhurst Dairy took delivery of its first hybrid truck as part of a suite of efforts to reduce the local dairy’s impact on the environment. Oakhurst expects the truck to use nine fewer gallons of fuel per day and help avoid about 52,000 pounds of CO2 annually. While $30 a day in fuel savings may not seem like much, over the lifetime of a truck, it add ups!
At EDF, we’re excited about this truck for two reasons. Not only is it the first hybrid to go into service in a dairy, but it is also the first truck to hit the road as part of the Northeast Hybrid Truck Consortium. In 2008, EDF was awarded over $750,000 by EPA Region 1 through the National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program and MassDEP. The money will help fleets around New England offset the incremental costs of new hybrid trucks, up to $40,000 per truck.
Sound too good to be true? It’s not! In fact, we’re still recruiting fleets to participate in the consortium.
Not in Region 1? EPA is currently accepting proposals for the 2009 round of Clean Diesel Funding. The RFP is open until December 8, so if a cleaner, more fuel-efficient truck is on your holiday wish-list, check out the EPA website for details about how to apply.
Later this week I’ll be writing an update on where the market stands on incentives for hybrid truck purchases, then stay tuned for an update on the number of trucks on the road.
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