JOHNSON CITY, Texas, April 30, 2010 – When you have upwards of 200,000 members to make happy, there’s more than a little pressure on any fleet manager to make right decisions. For Jim Petty, fleet supervisor for the Pedernales Electric Co-Op (the country’s largest such co-op), restful nights are the result of the recent purchase of a Kenworth T370 hybrid.
“Not only will be we saving up to 50 percent in our fuel bills, but we’re doing something positive for our workers and the environment when it comes to emissions,” said Petty. “We expect the Kenworth hybrid to pay for the cost difference against a standard T370 in a short period. After that, we’ll save substantial money during our eight- to 10-year trade cycle. And we’ll be doing our part to be green.”
Headquartered in Johnson City, Texas, 50 miles west of Austin, Pedernales Electric Co-Op’s Kenworth T370 hybrid, purchased through Kenworth of South Texas, joins 75 other Class 6-8 bucket trucks in the utility’s fleet which repair and maintain power lines, over 8,100 square miles, for its 200,000 customers.
“We like to call our customers ‘members,’ since they’re also the owners,” said Petty, who explained the Co-Op was started with the help of Congressman (and later President) Lyndon Johnson in 1938. “He helped lobby the Roosevelt administration to secure a loan to build nearly 1,800 miles of electric lines through the Texas Hill Country. It was the first power to be brought to the area for residents, who until that time, relied on kerosene lamps for illumination.”
The other trucks, which include Kenworth T800s, are equipped with 45 to 95-foot extendable buckets which are powered by a power takeoff (PTO) and driven through the truck’s engine.
With the Kenworth hybrid, the bucket arm is extended and manipulated with a PTO powered by the hybrid’s battery pack. “In our other trucks, the engine always idles to run the PTO. We average between 3,000 to 5,000 hours of idling just to operate the PTO during the life cycle of our bucket,” said Petty. “Since the T370’s engine will only come on periodically to charge the batteries, we’ll save thousands of dollars in idling costs alone when we’re working on lines. And we’ll get upwards of 25 to 30 percent better fuel economy since we drive in many urban areas, especially around Austin. What’s more, our crew on the ground won’t be exposed to diesel exhaust and we’ll have a quiet operation.”
The Kenworth T370 hybrid is powered by a 300-hp PACCAR PX-6 engine, and features an integral transmission-mounted motor/generator, a frame-mounted 340-volt battery pack and a dedicated power management system. Electricity generated through regenerative braking is stored and used for acceleration, assisting the diesel engine. Kenworth offers a high resolution, full color in-dash display to monitor the hybrid system. As the power requirements for different driving conditions change, the screen constantly updates the driver on system status, allowing the driver to optimize the performance of the hybrid system.
According to Petty, the electric co-op has been running hybrid cars for years with good success. “It’s a natural extension for us to move to bigger vehicles and all of us are excited to put the Kenworth into operation. We’re placing the truck into service at our Austin service location and our drivers can’t wait to start driving the truck,” he said. “During test drives, they commented about the smooth and fast initial acceleration, thanks to using battery power. And the turning radius is sharp, which helps in tight areas. Drivers also commented on the appointments inside the cab – which are of very high quality. It’s very clear that Kenworth makes a great truck – one that will work well during our long life cycle. Plus, we’re getting even greater value thanks to Kenworth’s history of high resale.”
Petty said there were no trepidations in putting the new hybrid technology to work. “Kenworth of South Texas and Eaton did a great job during a training session to show our drivers and technicians exactly how the hybrid worked, and how it was different from conventional trucks. It eased our minds and gave us confidence going forward that we definitely made the right choice in going with a hybrid Kenworth.”
Kenworth Truck Company is the manufacturer of The World’s Best(R) heavy and medium duty trucks. Kenworth is an industry leader in providing fuel-saving technology solutions that help increase fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. The company’s dedication to the green fleet includes aerodynamic trucks, compressed and liquefied natural gas trucks, and medium duty diesel-electric hybrids. In 2009, Kenworth became the first truck manufacturer to receive the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Air Excellence award in recognition of its environmentally friendly products. In addition, Kenworth is the recipient of the 2009 J.D. Power and Associates awards for Highest in Customer Satisfaction for both Over the Road Segment and Pickup and Delivery Segment Class 8 Trucks. Kenworth’s Internet home page is at www.kenworth.com. Kenworth. A PACCAR Company.
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