Food bank gets new hybrid diesel-electric truck
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A new Peterbilt hybrid diesel-electric truck will enable the Community Food Bank in Tucson, Ariz., to add 13 retail locations to its food-donation pickup route.
Rush Truck Center in Tucson, Ariz., a part of Rush Enterprises, has delivered one of the first Peterbilt production hybrid diesel-electric trucks – a 2009 Model 335 – to the Community Food Bank in Tucson. The truck was delivered at a dedication ceremony in January.
“We applaud the Community Food Bank’s adoption of hybrid vehicles and their commitment to the environment,” said W. M. “Rusty” Rush, president and CEO of Rush Enterprises. “Our team at Rush Truck Center-Tucson is pleased to support the Community Food Bank with the latest in vehicle technology as well as offer a range of expert services throughout the life cycle of this vehicle.”
The Class 7 Hybrid Electric Model 335 uses Eaton’s Hybrid Electric Power System with an electric motor that assists the Paccar PX-6 engine with supplemental torque for improved fuel economy. The system stores energy during stopping through a process called regenerative braking, and then reuses it for acceleration. The truck’s configuration is ideal for stop-and-go operations such as urban pickup and delivery, and has demonstrated up to a 30 percent fuel savings, according to Peterbilt.
The Community Food Bank truck is equipped with a 20-foot Morgan body, a Carrier Supra 750 refrigeration system and an Interlift liftgate. The new truck will enable the food bank to add 13 retail locations to its food-donation pickup route, greatly increasing its ability to meet the growing need for food assistance in the Tucson community.
“We’re committed to protecting the Southern Arizona environment, and hybrid technology is a perfect solution for the Community Food Bank,” said Bill Carnegie, president and CEO of the Community Food Bank.
Rush Enterprises, based in New Braunfels, Texas, operates a network of heavy- and medium-duty truck dealerships in North America and a John Deere construction equipment dealership in Houston.