January 21st, 2009 · No Comments

From Green Right Now reports

When you drive past a huge, heavy-duty truck, it wouldn’t strike you that you’re seeing green technology at work. But increasingly, you are.

That shifting reality will be on exhibit as the centerpiece of The Work Truck Show 2009, which comes to Chicago in March.  The National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) will be bringing in the latest “green” vocational trucks, equipment and technology to Chicago and will kick off with a full-day Green Truck Summit: The Future of Hybrids and Alternative Fuels.

The Work Truck Show,  North America’s largest event focused on vocational trucks and equipment, is another sign of how pervasive the green movement is, and the impact it is having on every industry.

Advances in design and engineering will be on display. From aerodynamic mud flaps to truck bodies made of recycled materials, idle-reduction technology to full-size electric trucks, manufacturers are rapidly developing products and technology that will lessen the environmental impact and improve the fuel utilization of these heavy work trucks.

Hybrid and alternative fuel trucks will be availale to test drive as part of the Green Truck Ride-and-Drive event. Manufactures showing new, greener technology include Baker Equipment, Bosch Rexroth Corp., Chelsea Products Div. of Parker, Dodge, DUECO Inc., Ford Commercial Truck, Freightliner Custom Chassis, Freightliner Trucks, General Motors, International Truck, Kenworth Truck Co., Peterbilt Motors Co., Smith Electric Vehicles and Unicell Body Co. The fuel systems on exhibit will range from electric, compressed natural gas (CNG) and hydraulic hybrid to stored energy, plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV), electric hybrid and dual mode electric hybrid vehicles.

“Work trucks are everywhere,” Jim Carney, NTEA executive director, said in a statement. “They are the tools used to build and maintain our infrastructure, clear our streets, deliver our packages, collect our garbage, trim our trees and more. The Work Truck Show 2009 provides an unbeatable opportunity for the people who use work trucks on the job every day to see what’s new and learn how to maximize their investment in green technology.”

Show organizers says that fluctuating fuel costs, environmental concerns and new emissions regulations are helping to make hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles a fast-growing segment of the work truck industry. The Green Truck Summit on March 3 will aim to help fleet managers, equipment manufacturers and upfitters understand how “green” vehicles will affect their businesses.