NYSEG Using Hybrid Bucket Truck In Binghamton Area

One of the bucket trucks NYSEG's using for streetlight repairs is quieter than traditional vehicles employed by the utility.

The Altec hybrid bucket truck utilized by NYSEG in the Binghamton area can be spotted by its specially-designed graphics which identify it as an electric vehicle that's "clean" and "quiet."

When the hybrid truck arrives at a job site, its diesel engine can be shut off and the bucket may be run using electricity stored in batteries at the rear section of the vehicle.

The electric bucket means less disruption when utility crews are working in residential neighborhoods. It enables a worker in the bucket to communicate more easily with a colleague on the ground.

NYSEG construction and maintenance supervisor John Zdimal says the hybrid vehicle has proven to be "very efficient." He says the vehicle's design enables crews to complete street light replacement tasks more efficiently compared to traditional, larger bucket trucks.

Zdimal says NYSEG has been pleased with the performance and flexibility of the Altec vehicle. He says many people are "intrigued" when they spot the quiet vehicle being used in the field.

The truck's batteries can be recharged overnight when the vehicle is parked at a NYSEG garage in Vestal. A standard power cord connects the vehicle batteries to a regular electrical outlet so the vehicle is ready for use in a few hours.

The Altec truck is one of dozens of environmentally-friendly vehicles that have been added to Iberdrola USA utility fleets in New York and the state of Maine.