As more and more fleets join the hybrid movement, Navistar has announced it has become the first original equipment manufacturer to have its hybrid vehicles accumulate 5 million miles of real-world driving.
“The continued success of these trucks on the road demonstrates not only the reliability of hybrid technology, but also the potential for significant fuel savings and emissions improvement within real-world applications,” said George Survant, director of fleet services for Florida Power and Light and chairperson of the Hybrid Truck Users Forum (HTUF) Working Group.
Through its International trucks and IC Bus brands, Navistar says it is expanding its activities in that area. The company recently received a $39 million federal grant to develop all-electric delivery vehicles and has said it will build 400 of the zero-emissions vehicles in 2010, primarily for local deliveries companies where stop-and-go driving is an essential part of the operation.
Navistar’s hybrid lineup includes the Class 6 International DuraStar Hybrid, the Class 7 DuraStar Hybrid tractor and the Class 7 WorkStar Hybrid 4x4.
“With a wide range of hybrid trucks and buses, we continue to be a leader in providing energy-saving, environmentally friendly transportation solutions,” said Jack Allen, president, Navistar’s North American truck group. “By developing clean-vehicle technologies that reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, we’re able to deliver significant savings to the customer’s bottom line and, at the same time, help them reduce their overall carbon footprint.”
