Daimler Trucks North America to participate in US DOE Clean Cities Programs

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Portland, OR—The United States Department of Energy (DOE) has announced its selection of 25 cost-share projects under the Clean Cities program that will be funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) will participate in at least seven program awards representing $32.9 million in funding to be applied toward the purchase and support of 638 hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles by several leading national fleet operators.

U.S. DOE support for DTNA customers includes funding for what will result in some of the nation’s single largest heavy-duty alternative fuel deployment efforts to date, said a Daimler Trucks North America release.

The DOE funding will be used to support the manufacture and sale of the following truck models:

  • Freightliner Business Class(r) M2e 106 hybrid electric trucks
    and tractors
  • Freightliner Business Class(r) M2 112 LNG tractors
  • Freightliner Business Class(r) M2 112 CNG trucks and tractors
  • Freightliner Custom Chassis hybrid electric walk-in vans
  • Freightliner Custom Chassis hydraulic hybrid walk-in vans
  • Freightliner Custom Chassis CNG walk-in vans

Daimler’s range of participation and deployment of vehicle technologies is expected to increase as selected Clean Cities programs, including those involving ports, municipal and school bus fleets, use funds toward vehicle purchases.

Funding for the projects was awarded based on applications submitted in partnership with Clean Cities Coalitions and directed to the DOE’s “Clean Cities Petroleum Reduction Technologies Projects for the Transportation Sector Funding Opportunity.” The ARRA and DOE Clean Cities funding encourages fleet adoption of clean, fuel-efficient diesel and alternative energy technologies that will stimulate the economy, create “green” jobs, reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil and generate near-zero levels of emissions.

The projects call for the deployment of multiple commercially available advanced and alternative fuel products offered by the company under its Freightliner and Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (FCCC) lines, including: hybrid electric, hybrid hydraulic, compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquid natural gas (LNG) trucks and tractors.

“This award is important to our company on several levels,” said Roger Nielsen, chief operating officer at DTNA. “It validates the efforts of our employees in their development of viable advanced technology and alternative fuel vehicles for the sustainable future of our customers,” Nielsen added. “And, it recognizes the vision of Daimler’s leadership in creating ‘green’ jobs and opportunities for contributing to cleaner air and healthier communities.”

“DOE’s support underscores our customers’ acceptance and preference for Daimler clean drive technologies, including the Freightliner and FCCC CNG, LNG and hybrid vehicles,” said Mark Lampert, senior vice president sales, Daimler Trucks North America. “This exemplifies the value of a long line of Daimler technologies that deliver customer value, fuel efficiency and cleaner air – offering a win-win opportunity for everyone.”

“Having experience in projects where clean air initiatives meet national and regional customer needs for cost-effective transportation, we saw tremendous opportunity here for Daimler leadership and Freightliner and FCCC hybrid and alternative fuel products,” said Lampert.

“We are excited to have contributed to these successful applicatio
ns for DOE funds and pleased to help our customers deploy advanced Freightliner technologies in their fleets,” he added. “This will make a significant difference in their operations in terms of lower emissions, less use of foreign oil and a more sustainable approach to moving the goods that are critical to our economy.”

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