WARRENVILLE, IL — International Truck and Engine Corporation, a Navistar company, has announced plans to enter line production of hybrid commercial trucks. As diesel fuel prices continue their volatility and engine emissions requirements tighten, International Truck and Engine is now producing the International DuraStar Hybrid, a diesel hybrid electric medium-duty truck that provides customers with improved fuel efficiency and reduced engine emissions. 
“We believe that hybrid technology is an important development for the commercial transportation sector,” said Daniel Ustian, president and chief executive officer, Navistar International Corp. “Increasing fuel efficiency and reducing emissions for the nation’s commercial trucks results in significant benefits for all of us. We strive to be the leader in developing energy efficient transportation solutions in the commercial truck, commercial bus and school bus industries.”
According to the company, the International DuraStar Hybrid diesel hybrid electric truck has the capability to provide fuel savings of about 30 to 40 percent on standard in-city pickup and delivery applications. The fuel efficiency can increase to more than 60 percent in utility-type applications when the engine can be shut off, but electric power still operates the vehicle. Diesel emissions are completely eliminated when the hybrid truck operates equipment (like overhead utility booms) solely on the truck’s battery power, instead of allowing the engine to idle.
“In our continued quest to be the first to market with new truck technologies, we are taking the next major step in bringing a medium-duty diesel hybrid electric vehicle into the marketplace,” said Dee Kapur, Truck Group president, International Truck and Engine. “The hybrid combination of the diesel engine and electric battery provides and number of advantages for many truck customers.”
For more information, visit: www.InternationalTrucks.com.
