All-Electric Delivery Vehicles Coming In 2010

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Navistar International Corp., a U.S. manufacturer of commercial trucks, has just been granted $39 million from the Department of Energy and has plans to team up with Modec Ltd., a British maker of electric vehicles, to make zero-emission, all-electric delivery vehicles for 2010.

The funding makes it possible for Navistar to make 400 clean energy vehicles next year and jump production up into the thousands per year within a few years. The joint venture envisions selling the clean commercial vehicles in North, Central and South America. The grant also serves to create hundreds of new jobs. Chairman, President and CEO Dan Ustian said Navistar already has some of the top names lined up as customers.

Modec vehicles are already used by large companies such as FedEx and UPS as well as Tesco, the United Kingdom’s largest supermarket chain. Modec vehicles are designed for operation in urban environments.

Navistar has been involved with cleaner vehicles since 1989 when it debuted its smokeless diesel engine. In 2001, Navistar was the first engine manufacturer to obtain U.S. Environmental Protection Agency certification for being ahead of the curve with particulate and hydrocarbon emissions standards. Navistar has also developed a hybrid electric plug-in school bus, truck and military vehicles.