FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. — The 2012 Work Truck Show will be giving attendees direct access to 21 environmentally friendly vehicles during its Green Truck Ride-and-Drive. Equipment demonstrations of electric PTOs and similar technologies will also take place in a stationary display area adjacent to the outdoor Ride-and-Drive course.

A fixture of The Work Truck Show since 2007, the Green Truck Ride-and-Drive gives show attendees the opportunity to experience cutting-edge technologies and energy-efficient vehicles firsthand. This year’s event includes a wide range of environmentally friendly drive systems, including CNG, propane, battery-electric, extended range electric, ultra-clean biodiesel, bi-fuel CNG, electric hybrids (series and parallel), and hydraulic hybrids. Some of the vehicles will also feature lightweight and aerodynamic technologies designed to further reduce the vehicle’s fuel consumption.

“Driving a truck under real-world conditions provides insights into the vehicle that you can’t get any other way,” said Bob Johnson, fleet relations director of the National Truck Equipment Association. “You can experience for yourself the vehicle’s handling characteristics, sounds, user-friendliness and more. If you’re interested in green vehicles, be sure to allow time in your show schedule for the Ride-and-Drive.”

A variety of work trucks will be represented in the Ride-and-Drive, including cargo and service vans, pickup trucks, dump trucks, shuttle buses, walk-in vans, tree-trimming trucks, utility trucks, box trucks, cutaways and more. The Ride-and-Drive is sponsored by Hino Trucks. The companies providing vehicles for the Ride-and-Drive are:

-Altec Industries (stationary demonstration)
-BAE Systems
-Cummins Crosspoint
– Electric Vehicles International
– Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation
– Freightliner Trucks
– Hino Trucks
– IMPCO Automotive
– International Truck
– Isuzu Commercial Truck of America
– Kenworth Truck Co
-Knapheide Manufacturing Company (The)
– Leggett & Platt Commercial Vehicle Products
– Lightning Hybrids
– Motiv Power Systems
– Peterbilt Motors Company
– Propane Education & Research Council (PERC)
-Ram Trucks
-Reading Truck Body
– Roush CleanTech
– Smith Electric Vehicles

The Work Truck Show runs March 6-8 at the Indiana Convention Center. The Green Truck Ride-and-Drive is open to all show attendees from 12 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on March 6-7. There is no additional charge to participate.

Complete vehicle descriptions will be available online in January. For more information, visit www.ntea.com/worktruckshow/greenproductsandprograms.