Avangrid to add over 130 hybrid vehicles to its utility fleet

Orange, Conn.-based Avangrid, Inc., a sustainable energy company and member of the Iberdrola Group, announced that it will be purchasing over 130 new hybrid bucket trucks over the next three years. The investment is part of the company’s goal to electrify its fleet across its Northeast utilities.

One of Avangrid’s hybrid bucket trucks currently in use by subsidiary, New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG). (Photo: Business Wire)

The hybrid vehicles, which will be procured from two different manufacturers, use a diesel engine while driving but only need electricity to operate the bucket lift, Avangrid said.

“In this case, we are expanding our use of new technologies that will make us more energy efficient,” said Avangrid CEO Pedro Azagra. “Hybrid vehicles will also improve the health and safety of our employees and the communities we serve while preserving Avangrid’s ability to respond to emergencies in our service area and beyond.”

The hybrid bucket trucks allow workers to avoid exposure to exhaust fumes when working on power lines. The quieter electric motor also makes it easier for crews to communicate with one another, Avangrid said.

Additionally, workers can keep the cabin air conditioned or heated during severe weather using only the electric motor, saving fuel.

Finally, using an electric motor to power the bucket lift reduces wear and tear on the vehicle’s engine, Avangrid said. This improves their reliability and keeps them operating more efficiently for longer.

Avangrid continues to explore other proven alternative energy sources. For example, some of Avangrid’s fleet is already using renewable diesel (made of plant material) in its Lancaster, N.Y., service area. The company is working toward growing its use of green fuels, including in its hybrid vehicles.

Avangrid said its goal is to convert 60 percent of its heavy-duty fleet to alternative energy sources by 2030. This investment in hybrid vehicles is a step toward meeting that goal, it said.