Forgotten Harvest, the Detroit MI mobile food rescue organization, has taken delivery of its first hybrid-powered truck. The Class 7 Freightliner, donated by Daimler Trucks North America, Daimler Financial Services, and Johnson Refrigerated Truck Bodies, will enable the organization to rescue 850,000 additional pounds of fresh food annually at a 30 percent fuel savings.
Susan Goodell, executive director of Forgotten Harvest, was presented the keys to the 2009 M2e Hybrid Freightliner diesel-electric truck by Klaus Entenmann, president and chief executive officer of Daimler Financial Services; and Chris Patterson, recently retired president and CEO of Daimler Trucks North America, at Forgotten Harvest's Metro Detroit facility. Ron Ricci, president of Johnson Refrigerated Truck Bodies of Rice Lake WI, donated the 20-foot fiberglass refrigerated truck body with ElectriMax, all-electric refrigeration that will keep food fresh during deliveries to homeless shelters and social service agencies.
The 31,000-lb Class 7 truck is the fifth truck donated by Daimler Financial Services and Daimler Trucks North America and aftermarket body builders in the past four years, bringing Forgotten Harvest's fleet to 21 vehicles.
The M2e Hybrid Freightliner performs best with consistent stop-and-go applications. Launch and acceleration are aided by the 60-hp electric motor; then with increased demand from the throttle, it blends combined diesel and electric power as needed. During braking, the braking power restores the battery charge. The hybrid system has been proven to increase brake life by more than 100% in urban delivery service.
This hybrid truck will contribute a 40 percent increase in fuel efficiency over a standard powertrain Class 7 truck and body with traditional diesel-powered refrigeration.
For more information, visit www.forgottenharvest.org or www.daimler-financialservices.com/na.