FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. — To keep pace with the evolving advanced truck technologies and alternative fuels vehicle market, the Green Truck Ride-and-Drive at The Work Truck Show 2014 will include a closed-access driving area in addition to the traditional open road test drive course.
The Work Truck Show, North America’s largest work truck event, runs March 5-7 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Ind. Educational programing begins March 4. Sponsored by Hino Trucks, the Green Truck Ride-and-Drive is open to all show attendees on Wednesday, March 5, and Thursday, March 6, from 12 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
“We are now entering a maturation phase for sustainable vehicle technology,” said Bob Johnson, NTEA director of fleet relations. “Vehicle builders have moved beyond the experimental stage and are fine-tuning their systems to meet the needs of specific applications. The new Green Truck Ride-and-Drive elements allow Work Truck Show attendees to take a more tailored test drive and gain a better understanding of what each vehicle can do for them.”
The Green Truck Ride-and-Drive course covers city streets near the convention center, but participants in 2014 also have the opportunity to take the vehicles into a reserved section of the Indianapolis Zoo parking lot nearby. This large, open area is closed to public traffic, so drivers can devote their attention to the vehicles they’re driving. A vehicle can be parked to demonstrate its equipment capabilities or idled to demonstrate a fuel management system. The new section also allows individuals without a commercial driver’s license (CDL) to test drive a truck requiring one.
Natural gas, propane, plug-in electric, hybrid-electric and extended-range electric vehicles will be featured at the Green Truck Ride-and-Drive. The current lineup includes cargo vans, shuttle buses and pickups, as well as medium- and heavy-duty trucks from 19 exhibiting companies.
Exhibitors providing vehicles for the Green Truck Ride-and-Drive include:
* Allison Transmission
* AMP Trucks/Workhorse
* Crosspoint Kinetics
* ECHO Automotive
* Freightliner Trucks
* Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp.
* Hino Trucks
* IMPCO Automotive
* International Truck
* Isuzu Commercial Truck of America Inc.
* Kenworth Truck Co.
* Lightning Hybrids Inc.
* Nissan
* Odyne Systems LLC
* Peterbilt Motors Co.
* Ram Commercial
* ROUSH CleanTech
* VIA Motors Inc.
* XL Hybrids
Access to the Green Truck Ride-and-Drive is included with Work Truck Show registration. Vehicles are available on a first-come, first-served basis. No advance registration is required.
Complete Green Truck Ride-and-Drive vehicle descriptions will be available online in January. Visit www.ntea.com/worktruckshow/greenproductsandprograms to learn more about the Green Truck Ride-and-Drive, Green Truck Summit, and Productivity and Fuels Pavilion.
To register for The Work Truck Show 2014, visit www.ntea.com or call 1-800-441-6832.
