Equipment

INDIANAPOLIS. Alliance AutoGas and Blossman Gas announced a new bi-fuel autogas conversion system for the Ford Transit van this week at the Work Truck Show. The system will be for the 3.7L engine and convert it to run on propane autogas. It is expected to be submitted to the EPA for certification early this year. Fleets using the system will receive 21 gals. of useable propane autogas and a 5 year, 100,000-mi. warranty....More

INDIANAPOLIS. XL Hybrids announced that its XL3 hybrid electric drive system is now available on the Reach commercial van from Isuzu and Utilimaster....More

INDIANAPOLIS. Truck Bodies & Equipment International (TBEI) may not be a familiar name to many, but the companies that encompass the Minnesota-based corporation probably are. Crysteel Manufacturing, Ox Bodies, Rugby Manufacturing, and DuraClass Manufacturing are name brands in the vocational world of dump bodies. The four brands were joined together between 2005-2006 to form TBEI....More

Mercedes-Benz Vans will invest $500 million to build a new van plant in Charleston, SC, and begin production of the next-generation Sprinter there in 2016.  Currently the Daimler van group builds U.S. market Sprinters in Germany. The vans are disassembled and shipped to the U.S. for reassembly in a small Charleston facility to avoid high commercial vehicle duties known colloquially as “the chicken tax.”...More

INDIANAPOLIS. Utilimaster has a history of introducing new vehicle bodies here at the Work Truck Show, most recently unveiling is Reach van four years ago. Today, Utilimaster added another option for work trucks with the Velocity walk-in van. “This vehicle is a culmination of input from customers, innovation and a product of speed and excellence,” said John Forbes, president. “In our business, we’re very focused on our customers, responding to their needs… and the Velocity is in response to that.”...More