Traffic signal technician Jason Parker gives Cleveland Utilities officials a demonstration in elevation with the electric division's new hybrid bucket truck. Cleveland Utilities purchased the vehicle as part of the Plug-in Hybrid program, administered through the Tennessee Valley Authority and the Electric Power Research Institute.CLEVELAND, Tenn. - A new hybrid electric bucket truck has joined Cleveland Utilities' fleet as part of environmental efforts supported by the Tennessee Valley Authority and the Electric Power Research Institute.
In a recent meeting, utility officials discussed the vehicle and other aspects of the Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle program, which funded one-third of the truck's $179,871 price tag.
"The truck has a 47-foot working height and will be used for servicing and installing traffic lighting and metering equipment," said Bart Borden, vice president of Cleveland Utilities' electric division. "It will also serve as an emergency restoration truck when the need arises."
The bucket has eight hours of battery run time when fully charged, Borden said. The batteries charge when the truck is running on its diesel engine.
The new hybrid plug-in electric bucket truck represents a number of firsts for the electric division, he said. It is the first Freightliner truck in the division fleet and its first vehicle to use a Cummins ISI 260 HP diesel engine, Borden said.
Data will be collected on the truck's performance as part of the hybrid vehicle program, he said.
Another part of the program calls for the installation of an electric vehicle plug-in station that will be located near the city's greenway in the vicinity of Raider Drive, Borden said.
Traffic signal technical Jason Parker gave utility officials a demonstration of bucket elevation operations after the meeting.
"Trust your equipment," said Parker. "It will take care of you if you let it."
The new bucket truck was recently deployed for maintenance tasks associated with the signal at North Lee Highway and Tasso Lane, he said.
In other business, the electric division recently relocated a number of overhead power lines below ground in connection with the construction of Lee University's new communication arts building, located at the corner of Church Street and Central Avenue.
The cost of the project, which also called for the installation of four streetlights in the new median near the building, was reimbursed by Lee University, Borden said.
The power line relocation, the new median and streetlights are part of the school's efforts to tie the communication arts building in with the aesthetics of Lee University's central campus, Cleveland City Councilman Bill Estes said during a recent tour of the facility.
Similar underground relocation plans are in the works for overhead primary lines that service Cleveland Utilities' Chatata Creek wastewater pump station, Borden said.
The swampy ground below the lines, in an area behind Merck Corporation, has impeded truck access when service is needed on those lines, he said.
Borden said the project is estimated to cost $72,690.
Paul Leach is based in Cleveland. Email him at paul.leach.press@gmail.com.