POUGHKEEPSIE, NY - Central Hudson has been awarded a $700,000 grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), to defray the incremental costs of four hybrid and four plug-in electric hybrid line trucks for use in daily utility operations.

The eight heavy-duty hybrid vehicles combined will save an estimated 12,000 gallons of diesel fuel each year, more than 260,000 lbs. in CO₂ emissions, and about $40,000 per year in operating costs, according to the company. The award is administered through the New York State Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), and New York City and Lower Hudson Valley Clean Communities.

"These trucks are being purchased as part of our normal vehicle replacement program, however with this funding we are able to obtain four diesel-electric hybrids and four plug-in diesel-electric hybrid models for our fleet," said Carl Meyer, president and chief operating officer. "These hybrid trucks reduce emissions and fuel use over conventional vehicles, and provide a win-win solution by protecting the environment and lowering operating costs."

The four hybrid diesel-electric line trucks will use regenerative braking to recharge the batteries that operate the electric motor, and will be used on assignments that require higher levels of driving distances to take advantage of this feature.

The batteries for the four plug-in hybrid diesel-electric line trucks can be recharged through regenerative braking, but also by an AC outlet, and will use this plug-in feature to ensure a full charge at assignments with less travel and which are more stationary in nature. "Recharging batteries from the electric grid reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 70 percent compared with using diesel or gasoline engines, at an average fuel cost of less than $1.00 per equivalent gallon," said Meyer.

All eight trucks will be equipped with advanced lithium-ion batteries. By using a combination of electricity and diesel fuel to power the vehicles, the hybrids are projected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 40 percent over conventional vehicles using diesel fuel alone.

Since 2006 and during most months of the year, Central Hudson uses B20 biodiesel fuel for its fleet, a blend of 80 percent petroleum diesel and 20 percent soybean oil. "Biodiesel fuel reduces emissions, lowers our petroleum dependence, and provides better lubricity for diesel engines," said Meyer. "These heavy-duty hybrid trucks will allow our use of two alternative fuels at the same time, electricity and biodiesel, providing the operating experience and information we can use in evaluating future vehicle purchases." Deliveries of the first four hybrid vehicles are expected in late 2010.

The Department of Energy Clean Cities Petroleum Reduction Technologies Projects obtained $300 million through the ARRA, and released more than $13 million to NYSERDA's Statewide Alternative Fuel Vehicle Program on behalf of the Clean Cities Coalitions in New York. As part of the grant program, vehicle performance data will be collected and shared with NYSERDA.