Alternative fuel vehicles just got a boost as the U.S. Department of Energy awarded Penkse Truck Leasing a $400,000 grant on May 6 for the company’s Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Demonstration and Enhanced Driver Experience Project.
“This is a unique program and the first of its kind for our company,” explained Matt Krasney, Penske director of Alternative Fuels. “This grant will allow fleets to experience alternatively fueled vehicles at a reduced cost, and it will provide Penske the ability to expand our work with customer fleets via comprehensive demonstrations and deep dive technical support."
The company is beginning the process of identifying truck leasing and commercial truck rental customers nationally to participate.
"We plan to target customers who currently don't have natural gas equipment, because they may have been deterred by the high vehicle cost and lack of information,” he continued. “Penske will walk them through the process, step-by-step."
The company has been an affiliate partner in the EPA SmartWay program and has won the SmartWay Affiliate Challenge Award for the last three years. Earlier this year the company was given the EPA Clean Air Excellence Award for the first time in company history.
