The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), the US Department of Energy (US DOE), and Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) have begun deployment of 143 heavy-duty Freightliner hybrid electric and Freightliner Custom Chassis hybrid hydraulic trucks under the Maryland Hybrid Truck Initiative (MHTI).
MHTI is using $5.9 million in grant funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through the US DOE to help offset the incremental cost to purchase and deploy these hybrid trucks designed to meet the operational demands of local goods movement.
The official announcement came recently at a ribbon-cutting celebration commemorating the first “wheels-on-the-ground” funded by MHTI at the Nestle Waters North America Deer Park facility in Baltimore MD.
“Today, we celebrate the deployment of 143 new heavy-duty hybrid trucks that will provide immediate economic and air quality benefits for Maryland,” said Malcolm Woolf, director of the MEA. “This project will keep Maryland smart, green, and growing by significantly reducing petroleum consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and criteria pollutants to bring us closer to achieving our goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2025.”
MHTI is made possible through the creation of a public-private partnership led by the US DOE and its Clean Cities program, together with the MEA and DTNA. Five dedicated partner fleets— Sysco Corporation, Aramark, United Parcel Service, Nestle Waters of North America, and Efficiency Enterprises—were selected to participate in the initiative based on their record of implementing large-scale truck deployments and commitment to clean vehicle technology development.
These five partners are recipients of the 143 heavy-duty hybrid trucks and have centered their deployments in Maryland and other areas nationwide to maximize the impact of mechanic training on hybrid repair, service, and deployment.
MHTI is creating and retaining skilled, full-time American green jobs in vehicle factories, dealerships, and supply chains. The initiative also provides immediate emission and petroleum displacement benefits by reducing nitrogen oxide emissions by more than 67,747 lbs per year, greenhouse gas emissions by 652,748 lbs per year, and consumption of conventional petroleum products by 138,420 gallons per year.
For more information, visit www.marylandhti.com.
