WAUKESHA, WI – Milwaukee County held a press conference at Rainbow Park in West Allis, Wis., showcasing four new bucket trucks featuring Odyne Hybrid Systems that were built by DUECO, Inc. of Waukesha.

Milwaukee County Executive, Chris Abele, noted the smart investment in new technology, partially funded by the Wisconsin Clean Transportation Program, which will help reduce fuel costs up to 50 percent and reduce emissions. He cited it as an example of a smart business decision in light of gas prices.

David Jenkins, Director of Commercialization & Market Development for the Wisconsin Department of Administration State Energy Office noted that his department was pleased to support the purchase of these trucks, through the Clean Transportation Program, citing it as a great example of where the state supports local decision making. Frank Busalacchi, Director, Milwaukee County Department of Transportation, noted the County was pleased to work with Odyne Systems, a local area company, to bring the advances of hybrid power to the County fleet.

The bucket trucks, the first hybrid trucks for the County, are being used to maintain traffic signals and street lighting. The vehicles feature the first Odyne hybrid systems installed on Kenworth truck chassis and power Venturo corner mount cranes, which will be used in lifting lighting into place. The trucks feature fiberglass bodies and Terex TL60 aerial buckets.

The Odyne plug-in hybrid systems will lower fuel consumption by up to 50 percent, depending on duty cycle, or up to 1,750 gallons per truck annually. The trucks operate with zero or significantly lower emissions at the job site and provide quiet operation, for safer working conditions and a neighborhood friendly environment. Odyne hybrid systems are modular and can be applied and retrofitted to a wide range of work vehicles.