Story Published:
May 1, 2008 at 3:13 PM CST
Story Updated:
May 1, 2008 at 9:30 PM CST
If you think the cost of gasoline is hurting you, imagine paying $4.20 or more for diesel fuel and being a truck driver.
One McLean County truck dealer has come up with an alternative that could ease some of the burden from rising diesel fuel prices.
Peterbilt unveiled a prototype of its new hybrid truck at its new Bloomington location. Company officials say the hybrid will help save money spent on fuel.
General Manager Dan Ryan said, "They'll use either hydrolic power or electrical power in order to help launch the vehicle so the engine itself won't need to run until 20 or 30 miles an hour so, it'll increase the fuel mileage and reduce emissions."
While using the hybrid truck drivers don't have to let the engines run idle while they are sleeping at truck stops because a giant battery helps drive the electric motor.
Ryan says the hybrid trucks could be in production in a couple of years, but this garbage truck model will be going to Colorado for use. He's not such how much above the $120,000 range hybrid trucks will cost, but says because of their green features they're worth it.
Diesel fuel prices have soared so high one truck company owner says he's paying nearly triple to fill up his rig.
Trucker Benny Cole said he is paying between $800 and $820 a daycompared to between $200-250 a year or two ago.
He said, "We pass it on to the customer we have no choice to do that. Now it's starting to drive everyone else's costs up. So it's hurting everybody."