Stimulus Funding To Assist Eaton In Nation’s Largest Deployment Of Commercial Hybrid Vehicles And Electrical Charging Infrastructure Support

Eaton Corporation recently announced its truck and electrical businesses will support a $45.4 million grant to produce plug-in hybrid electric power systems for 378 vehicles, the nation’s largest commercial hybrid deployment to date. The funding is part of the recently announced $2.4 billion in grants by the U.S. Department of Energy under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Eaton will work with grant recipient South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) and other affiliates, including the Electrical Power Research Institute (EPRI), Altec Industries, Compact Power Inc., Ford Motor Company and Southern California Edison, in the deployment of plug-in hybrid electric commercial vehicles to more than 50 utility and municipal fleets nationwide. Eaton will also provide infrastructure for the electrical charging of these vehicles.

“This funding is an important milestone in the advancement of plug-in hybrid vehicles, and Eaton is pleased to be a recipient,” said Alexander M. Cutler, Eaton chairman and chief executive officer. “By providing our sustainable, energy-saving technologies to power the vehicles as well as the electrical infrastructure support to help keep them running, we believe we can provide Eaton customers with the technology they need to move plug-in hybrids to the next level.”

The development and deployment of the plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) and accompanying charging infrastructure will take place over 18 months. Vehicles will be evaluated over a two-year period.

Source: Eaton

Freightliner Trucks Extends "Slice of Life" Program

The Freightliner Truck homepage reports on the "Slice of Life" drivers and the Detroit Diesel DD15 equipped 2009 Cascadia trucks they drive.

Photo Credit: Freightliner Trucks

According to Freightliner Trucks, because of the popularity of the Slice of Life program and the positive response from the three participants - Dick McCorkle, Henry Albert and Kurt Grote - Freightliner Trucks has extended the program so they can continue to enjoy the Cascadia's enhanced aerodynamics and fuel efficiency, with the new addition of Detroit Diesel's BlueTec SCR emissions technology.

"Given the positive response we've received so far, we decided to extend the program and introduce the drivers to BlueTec emissions technology by giving them three new Cascadia trucks to test drive with DD15's with BlueTec technology," said Jamie Heck, owner operator product marketing manager for Freightliner Trucks. "As Kurt, Henry and Dick continue to cross North America, we will be eager to read their blogs and hear their reports detailing their experiences and the performance of these new products."

Source: Freightliner Trucks

PACCAR Honored With Enviromental Award

PACCAR’s Corporate office and its Kenworth Truck Company manufacturing facility in Renton were recently named as leaders in King County, Washington’s 2009 Best Workplaces for Recyclers.

Photo Credit: PACCAR

“PACCAR is honored to receive this prestigious environmental award,” said Richard Bangert, PACCAR vice president. “PACCAR is a global environmental leader and is committed to waste reduction, the conservation of natural resources and the ongoing protection of the environment.

This award recognizes the diligent efforts of our employees to reduce, reuse and recycle. PACCAR’s recycling program is an important facet in its comprehensive environmental framework.” Several PACCAR commercial vehicle facilities have achieved “zero waste to landfill,” which has enhanced operating efficiency and contributed to a green environment.

Source: PACCAR