PECO Awarded Grant for Hybrid Truck

PECO has been awarded a federal “Clean Cities” grant for more than $83,000 to support the production and testing of a prototype hybrid bucket truck in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, region. PECO is one of six recipients in the mid-Atlantic.

The grant will be used to offset the cost of a heavy-duty, hybrid utility truck, which PECO expects to receive in the spring of 2006. The funding will cover both the body of the vehicle as well as costs associated with the conversion of the engine and chassis to operate on electricity and gasoline. Following production, PECO will use the vehicle and provide feedback on its capabilities to the U.S. Department of Energy.

“The use of alternate fuel vehicles is part of Exelon’s overall environmental strategy and commitment to clean energy,” said Bill Pettit, director of fleet services for Exelon, PECO’s parent company.

As part of a nationwide pilot program, PECO and sister utility ComEd in Chicago will be among the first utilities in the nation to test hybrid bucket trucks currently being manufactured in Illinois and Ohio. The trucks are expected to improve fuel economy up to 60% compared to diesel-only trucks.