Sanitation Unveils New Fuel Efficient Hybrid Collection Trucks

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) Commissioner John J. Doherty, vehicle manufacturers, and 'green' technology experts today announced the next step in a greener, cleaner New York City with the showcasing of three new first-of-a-kind DSNY refuse collection trucks and one diesel-hybrid electric rack truck that utilize some of the most environmentally friendly technologies available today.  The trucks were unveiled at the Parks & Recreation Department's 21st Annual Vehicle & Equipment Show in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens. 

The collection vehicles, which will soon be picking up residential garbage in the city, and the rack truck, which is used for lot cleaning, snow operations and for hauling of heavy materials, are the first in the country.  The Mack TerraPro Low Entry model refuse truck is the first parallel hybrid-electric diesel truck in the country designed specifically for Class 8 heavy-duty applications, and meets the EPA 2010 emission regulations.    The Crane Carrier Corporation will provide DSNY with a Bosch Rexroth Hydrostatic Regenerative Braking (HRB) parallel hydraulic system and an ISE hybrid-electric collection truck.  The Kenworth T370 diesel-electric hybrid truck is the first medium duty hybrid truck to enter service in DSNY's fleet.  The vehicles will also be shown nationally next month at the upcoming Waste Expo 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Mayor Bloomberg said "The Sanitation Department, one of our most essential city agencies, picks up over 11,000 tons of garbage and recycling per day and helps keep this city clean and safe.  New York City is a city of 'firsts' and these rugged vehicles no doubt continue that tradition.  These vehicles are a testament to the Department's core mission by not only being the tools of the Department's 'trade,' but also having the potential to drastically reduce truck emissions, decrease fuel consumption, and decrease truck noise in order to accomplish the Department's vital mission.  A cleaner, and 'greener', collection truck will be a boon to improving the city's and our nation's environment."

Commissioner Doherty said "The Department is proud to be the first city in the country to utilize these state-of-the-art hybrid vehicles.  Environmentally friendly vehicles such as these enable us to clean 'the Big Apple' twofold each and every day and contribute to the 'greening' of our city.  New York's Strongest can also be known as New York's Cleanest."

"We have a wide variety of driving patterns and duty cycles due to the varying density of housing in New York City.  That makes us the perfect platform to quantify the value of these trucks in different settings and route structures," said DSNY Deputy Commissioner of the Bureau of Support Services, Rocco DiRico. 

"This truck marks a key milestone in a long-standing, successful partnership," said Mack president and CEO Dennis Slagle.  "By burning up to 30 percent less fuel and emitting significantly less carbon dioxide, our trucks can have a great impact on the quality of the air we breathe."

"These hybrid technologies will prove to be more fuel efficient, less costly to operate and more environmentally friendly to the neighborhoods and communities they serve," said Glenn Pochocki II, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Crane Carrier Company. 

"Kenworth is an industry leader in providing products that help enhance fuel economy and reduce emissions.  Our strong environmental commitment is reflected in our new T370 diesel-electric hybrid truck," said Kenworth general manager and PACCAR vice president Bill Kozek.