 Under the Environmental Protection Agency's related Diesel Emission
Reduction Act, funding is available through ARRA for up to 25
percent of the cost of a new hybrid truck. Fleets can purchase
multiple trucks. An existing diesel truck has to be taken out of
service for each new hybrid truck that is purchased.
"This program is a unique opportunity for fleets to dramatically
reduce vehicle emissions and fuel consumption while shortening their
payback period for an investment in hybrid power," said Dontia
Warren, market development manager for Eaton's Hybrid Power business
unit. "This is a significant investment by the U.S. government to
help offset the initial costs of these clean vehicle solutions.
Eaton has been working with industry experts and nonprofit
stakeholders to help fleet owners complete grant applications to
apply for funding for new hybrid trucks."
Warren indicated that by combining the DERA funding with an IRS
tax credit and the fuel and operating savings of a hybrid versus a
conventional diesel truck, the cost of a new diesel hybrid truck
could be about the same as a conventional new truck over a five-year
period.
"There is a sense of urgency to our effort, since the submission
period for EPA regional applications begins March 17 and ends April
27," said Warren. "Our goal is to identify all of our customers who
qualify and want to take advantage of this opportunity by no later
than April 1."
The DERA grants are made to nonprofit organizations that have
jurisdiction over air quality for projects that reduce diesel
emissions. The nonprofit organizations submit the applications to
the appropriate EPA regional office.
The Eaton hybrid system is available on truck models from
International, Peterbilt, Kenworth and Freightliner. Commercial
vehicle fleets with Eaton hybrid systems have accumulated more than
12 million miles in revenue service to date. Delivery vehicles with
the Eaton system are being used by companies such as FedEx, UPS,
Coca-Cola and Pepsi, to name a few. Work trucks with Eaton hybrid
power are also in service at dozens of utility and telecom companies
across North America. Benefits of the Eaton hybrid system include
fuel savings ranging from 30 percent to 60 percent, with similar
percentages in emission reductions, extended brake life and
reductions of up to 87 percent in idle times during work site
operations.
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Fleets and equipment eligible for the DERA funding include buses,
medium or heavy-duty trucks, marine engines, and locomotives. Also
included are vehicles with non-road or stationary engines used for
construction, handling of cargo (at ports or airports), mining and
energy production.
More information about the EPA's DERA program is available at
www.epa.gov/cleandiesel.
Additional information about Eaton's program can be requested at
DERAFunding@Eaton.com.
Eaton's Truck Group, with sales of $2.3 billion in 2008, is a
global leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of powertrain
systems and other components for commercial vehicle markets. Eaton
works with leading vehicle manufacturers and fleets around the world
to provide innovative solutions in power control systems for
increased performance, productivity and sustainability, including
manual and automated transmissions, clutches, hybrid power, and
emission treatment systems.
[Text from
Business Wire file]
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