Comments on: AEP Orders Hybrid Utility Trucks http://www.environmentalleader.com/2008/04/22/aep-orders-hybrid-utility-trucks/ Environmental Leader Fri, 25 May 2012 13:10:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Clean_Burning http://www.environmentalleader.com/2008/04/22/aep-orders-hybrid-utility-trucks/comment-page-1/#comment-51819 Clean_Burning Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:50:23 +0000 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2008/04/22/aep-orders-hybrid-utility-trucks/#comment-51819 Are AEP’s new hybrid-diesel trucks equipped with diesel particulate filters? Although these vehicles will reduce carbon dioxide emissions, they will not reduce particulate matter (PM) emissions unless equipped with the filters. Exposure to diesel exhaust and diesel PM is a known occupational hazard to truckers. Long-term exposure can lead to serious health problems such as cardiovascular disease and lung cancer. In fact, a recent study by the University of Connecticut compared hybrid diesel transit buses with conventional diesel buses to determine whether the hybrid buses were inherently cleaner than their non-hybrid counter parts. According to the study, researchers found “no decrease in particulate emissions from the hybrid buses compared with the conventional diesel buses.” One way to eliminate such risks would be to employ Natural Gas trucks. LNG-powered trucks reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 23%, Nox by 50%, and PM by 70%; all while lessening our reliance on diesel. Federal tax incentives and private funding significantly reduce start-up costs while the cost of using “diesel-anything” is absorbed by the environment and by the healthy lungs of truckers. Are AEP’s new hybrid-diesel trucks equipped with diesel particulate filters? Although these vehicles will reduce carbon dioxide emissions, they will not reduce particulate matter (PM) emissions unless equipped with the filters. Exposure to diesel exhaust and diesel PM is a known occupational hazard to truckers. Long-term exposure can lead to serious health problems such as cardiovascular disease and lung cancer.

In fact, a recent study by the University of Connecticut compared hybrid diesel transit buses with conventional diesel buses to determine whether the hybrid buses were inherently cleaner than their non-hybrid counter parts. According to the study, researchers found “no decrease in particulate emissions from the hybrid buses compared with the conventional diesel buses.”

One way to eliminate such risks would be to employ Natural Gas trucks. LNG-powered trucks reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 23%, Nox by 50%, and PM by 70%; all while lessening our reliance on diesel. Federal tax incentives and private funding significantly reduce start-up costs while the cost of using “diesel-anything” is absorbed by the environment and by the healthy lungs of truckers.

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