Chicago Encourages Sustainable Switch to Electric Truck Fleets

With $15 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Chicago will distribute vouchers to cover part of the transition cost to electric vehicles.

  • Nov 30, 2012

Chicago will be making the switch from diesel to electric with an incentive program enacted by the city's mayor, Rahm Emanuel. The program, the first of its kind in the nation, will encourage the sustainable change in public and private truck fleets within the city.

The city accepted $15 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation to fund the program. Building electric fleets in both the public and sectors will be done through a distribution of vouchers. The vouchers given to truck fleets will compensate for 60 percent of the cost for switching to electric trucks.

It is estimated that 250 vouchers will be distributed. They will be offered when the sale of an electric truck is made, instead of on a rebate basis. The city believes that will encourage participation from companies in six of the Chicago area's counties.

Product Showcase

  • Matrix's OmniPro Vision AI Collision Avoidance System

    OmniPro Vision AI is a state-of-the-art collision avoidance system that features NIOSH award-winning Visual Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. This highly accurate, powerful system identifies and alerts on pedestrians, vehicles and specified objects, ensuring safer facilities, mining operations and industrial sites. With its web-based cloud application, OmniPro Vision AI also logs and analyzes a wide range of data related to zone breach notifications. Operating without needing personal wearable devices or tags, OmniPro has visual and audible zone breach alerts for both operators and pedestrians. 3

  • HAZ LO HEADLAMPS

    With alkaline or rechargeable options, these safety rated, Class 1, Div. 1 Headlamps provide long runtime with both spot and flood options in the same light. Work safely and avoid trip hazards with flexible hands-free lighting from Streamlight. 3

  • Safety Knives

    The Safety Knife Company has developed a quality range of safety knives for all industries. Designed so that fingers cannot get to the blades, these knives will safely cut through cardboard, tape, strapping, shrink or plastic wrap or a variety of other packing materials. Because these knives have no exposed blades and only cut cardboard deep, they will not only protect employees against lacerations but they will also save product. The Metal Detectable versions have revolutionary metal detectable polypropylene knife bodies specifically for the food and pharmaceutical industries. This material can be detected and rejected by typical detection machines and is X-ray visible. 3

Featured

Most   Popular