FirstEnergy Corp. has announced that 100% of new fleet purchases of light-duty trucks will be electric or hybrid vehicles beginning in 2021.
This transition to cleaner-powered options is part of FirstEnergy’s larger efforts to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission companywide and support transportation electrification efforts in its six-state service area. FirstEnergy expects to electrify 30% of its approximately 3,400 light duty and aerial fleet vehicles by 2030, representing 1,034 vehicles, with the goal of reaching 100% electrification by 2050. The vehicles that are included in this are utility bucket trucks, small pickups, SUVs and other support vehicles.
“A team of employees tested versions of the hybrid vehicles in the field and determined we could get comparable operational benefits while substantially reducing emissions. We believe our efforts to lead by example in this area will help spur customer adoption of electric vehicles in the coming years,” said Steven E. Strah, President, FirstEnergy.
Fully electric aerial trucks are still in development but some of the new hybrid vehicles will feature plug-on idle mitigation units powered by battery packs for the lift or bucket, along with operating the truck’s heating and air conditioning systems. These hybrid aerial trucks significantly reduce the amount of time the diesel engine operates, which also reduces air and noise pollution.