WAUKESHA, WI - Milwaukee County and various utilities recently took delivery of seven hybrid system work trucks from Odyne Systems, LLC, featuring the company's plug-in hybrid propulsion system. The truck purchases were partially funded under the Wisconsin Clean Transportation Program jointly administered through the Wisconsin State Energy Office and the U.S. Department of Energy Wisconsin Clean Cities program. The new units are anticipated to deliver fuel efficiency over a conventional truck of up to 50-percent annually, depending upon the use of the truck, according to a release from the Odyne.

The following have received Odyne hybrid systems under the Wisconsin Clean Transportation Program:

• Milwaukee County took delivery of four work trucks in December 2011 and January 2012 that will be used throughout Milwaukee County to maintain traffic signals and street lighting. Although the county automotive fleet includes hybrids, these are the first hybrid trucks it is putting to work. Manufactured by DUECO, Inc., the vehicles feature the first Odyne hybrid systems installed on Kenworth truck chassis and are the first to power Venturo corner mount cranes, which will be used in sign maintenance and to lift lighting as the county switches to more efficient LED lighting. The trucks feature fiberglass bodies and Terex TL60 aerial buckets.

• Marshfield Utilities, serving the City of Marshfield, Wis., took delivery of its first Odyne hybrid truck in 2009. A second truck with a more advanced Odyne plug-in hybrid system was delivered in December 2011. Both units feature a Navistar chassis, Terex HRX55 booms, and fiberglass bodies. The trucks are used for construction and maintenance of the Marshfield utility grid. Greg Geiger, Electric Operating Supervisor with Marshfield Utilities, summed up what he likes about the Odyne hybrid trucks by saying, "Besides saving fuel, and therefore decreasing our carbon footprint, the biggest benefit has been for our guys working on the ground. There are no diesel fumes to breathe in, and it's a nice quiet work environment to communicate in."

• The Richland Center unit of Wisconsin Public Power, Inc., will be putting a new Terex TCX60 boom and fiberglass body on a Navistar chassis with the Odyne hybrid system into action for the construction and maintenance of the utility grid. Dale Bender, electrical superintendent at Richland Center, commented, "The line crew is looking forward to the improved working conditions, including quiet operation, as well as the advantages of fuel savings."

• The Lake Mills Unit of Wisconsin Public Power, Inc., is also putting a new Terex TCX60 with a fiberglass body on a Navistar chassis to work constructing and maintaining the utility grid.

Odyne's hybrid technology combines electric power conversion, power control, and energy storage technology with Remy advanced electric propulsion motors, modular Johnson Controls lithium-ion battery systems, and other automotive quality components. The Odyne plug-in hybrid drive system can enable large trucks to obtain significant fuel economy improvements compared to traditional diesel engines. The Odyne advanced hybrid system also lowers emissions and provides a quiet, safe working environment, a release from the company stated.