SALES HYBRID TRUCKS * USA - Effort to drive hybrid truck sales powers up

Long-term process to build acceptance and demand for hybrid technology within the U.S. fleet communit

Baltimore,MAR,USA -Fleet Owner, by Sean Kilcarr -Jan 26, 2011:  --  The official deployment of 143 hybrid commercial vehicles manufactured by Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) under the auspices of the Maryland Hybrid Truck Initiative (MHTI) here this week is being characterized as but the first step of a long-term three-stage process to build acceptance and then demand for hybrid technology within the U.S. fleet community...  MHTI is using $5.9 million in grant funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA, also known as the “stimulus bill”) through the Dept. of Energy to help offset the incremental costs of these 143 vehicles – diesel-electric hybrid Freightliner Business Class M2 tractor and straight truck models, as well as diesel-electric and hydraulic hybrid Freightliner Custom Chassis “bread vans” ...   Those trucks are being deployed in local operations within Maryland with five fleets: Nestle Waters North America, UPS, Aramark, Sysco Corp. and Efficiency Enterprises...