Better Texas moves forward by announcing the addition of two new new hybrid-powered bucket trucks to its fleet. Oncor’s decision to add the hybrid-powered bucket trucks comes as a result of its participation in a 2006 trial of the hybrid trucks in the field, organized by the non-profit organization CALSTART (www.calstart.org).

Oncor was one of 14 utilities included in the trial, the results of which were very positive. The trial proved that the hybrid-powered bucket trucks, which alternate between diesel fuel and battery power to operate, get up to 60 percent in fuel savings, of which one-third comes from driving with the rest of the savings occurring at the job site as the hybrid system works the bucket or aerial device of the truck. The fuel savings Oncor receives from these hybrids help save the environment by using less fuel, a non-renewable resource.

On Friday, May 1, the trucks will hit the field, with one heading to work in Waco and the other to Fort Worth. Both are wrapped in Texas flag-inspired artwork, with “Hybrid Truck” and “Small Changes. Better Texas.” marked on both sides of each truck.

(Source) Press

Tags: aerial device, battery power, bucket trucks, calstart, diesel fuel, fuel savings, hybrid system, hybrids, oncor, renewable resource, texas flag, truck source

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Chicago is getting ready for the future of electric car charging with the unveiling of the first solar-powered electric vehicle charging station in the City of Chicago. Located and operational at the City of Chicago Department of Fleet Maintenance, it was one of the focal points of the recent IOC tour on April 5th, 2009 where guests were able to see the nation’s foremost Solar Plug-In Station that was designed to pave the way to fuel plug-in electric vehicles.

It will be used daily by the City of Chicago to fuel the city’s electric vehicles with power from the sun. Carbon Day Automotive is the sole Midwest distributor for Coulomb Technologies ChargePoint™ Networked Charging Stations. When paired with Carbon Day’s Solar Plug-In Station, it is a source of totally renewable and clean energy that addresses the needs of drivers, utilities and governments.

The Carbon Day Automotive Solar Plug-In Station, built by Carbon Day Construction, was designed by the world-renowned firm of Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture. Wanxiang America Corporation, dedicated to providing clean energy solutions for municipalities, manufactured the solar panels that form a tree-like canopy built by Residential Steel.

Pure Energy, LLC, Northbrook installed the sculpted piece and interfaced it with the concealed underground battery pack enhanced to store solar energy, specially designed and developed by ALL CELL Technologies, a thermal management and power pack solutions manufacturer. The grid stores the sun’s energy, a renewable resource, to power zero emission electric vehicles.

(Source) Press

Tags: charging station, clean energy, coulomb, electric car, electric vehicle, electric vehicles, energy llc, energy solutions, gordon gill, renewable resource, wanxiang america corporation

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