City hybrid fleet expands with boom truck

The City of Renton has purchased a new boom truck that runs on both diesel and electric power.

City crews will use the boom truck to erect and maintain signs, street lights and power lines.

“Hybrid vehicles can make a real contribution to a cleaner, greener city and will save us money in our operational costs,” said Mayor Denis Law. “It is an important part of our commitment to protect the environment.”

Hybrid trucks provide the greatest fuel efficiency when they are stationary but are working on signs, signals and lights, according to city officials. During this time the trucks can provide 40 percent to 60 percent in fuel savings since they use only electric power to run the hydraulic system and the motor is turned off.

When the batteries become low on power, the truck switches to using diesel while the batteries are charged.

The trucks also use electric power when they are traveling under 15 mph. Diesel is used for normal driving operations. These trucks also offer the added advantage of significant noise reduction when they are working in neighborhoods.

“Though hybrids offer significant environmental benefits, they tend to be significantly more expensive than traditional vehicles,” said Law. “This often discourages local government from investing in them. We hope that the industry will recognize this challenge and make it more affordable for cities and other jurisdictions to purchase hybrid vehicles.”

The city currently owns 17 hybrid vehicles and plans to add more hybrids and fuel-efficient vehicles to its fleet as vehicles need to be replaced.

Other efforts to promote sustainability while increasing efficiency in city operations include initiatives to reduce paper waste in city operations, incorporating green and resource-efficient features in city facilities, and community-wide recycling and conservation programs, according to officials.

For more information about the City of Renton visit rentonwa.gov.

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