Fort Wayne, Ind. -- Fort Wayne Mayor Graham Richard today joined officials from General Motors to celebrate the addition of four new GM hybrid pickup trucks to the City's fleet.
"By making innovative investments, we become more competitive in attracting new businesses and jobs to our community," said Mayor Richard. "We are a leader in providing excellent services in a way that promotes fiscal responsibility and a clean environment."
The GMC Sierra hybrid pickup trucks, assembled at the Fort Wayne GM plant, combine a conventional gasoline engine with an electric motor to provide a fuel economy savings of 10 percent. That is the highest estimated fuel economy of any full-size truck. The trucks get more miles from each gallon of gas because of the engine start/stop function and regenerative braking, which turns the motor into a generator as the truck decelerates. For additional savings, the fuel is shut off instantly any time the truck is coasting or braking.
The electric motor provides fast, quiet starting power and the ability to generate up to 14,000 watts of continuous electric power. The electricity has many uses including providing 20 amps of 120-volt household-like power through outlets in the cab and pickup bed to operate power tools at a construction site.
Three of the trucks will be used by the Water Pollution Control Maintenance Department. The fourth truck will be used by the Water Maintenance Department.
Hybrid vehicles are part of Mayor Richard's "Green City" initiative aimed at improving government services and making the City more environmentally friendly. The vehicles were purchased from Don Ayres Pontiac-GMC-Honda in Fort Wayne.