New emissions regulations, environmental concerns and the rising cost of fuel are making hybrid vehicles increasingly attractive to a growing number of businesses. The Work Truck Show 2008 and 44th Annual National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) Convention offer industry professionals the opportunity to check out the latest hybrid and alternative fuels technology developments, learn how to determine if hybrid vehicles are a good fit for their operations and take some of the existing hybrid commercial vehicles for a test drive.

The Work Truck Show 2008 runs Feb. 26 to 28, 2008, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Ga., with the convention and educational sessions starting Feb. 25.

“All of us in the work truck industry are in a unique position to work with one another to develop and apply the technologies that will literally drive us into the future, with much less fuel and fewer emissions,” said Jim Carney, NTEA executive director.

The activities kick off with an all-day “Hybrid Truck and Alternative Fuels Summit” special session on Monday, Feb. 25, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Since the summit debuted at The Work Truck Show 2007 where it was sold out, the NTEA is bringing back the program by popular demand to provide technology updates and additional information about how to integrate hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles into fleets. Considerations for determining the cost justification of purchasing these vehicles also will be addressed by industry experts.

A separate ticket is required for this special session.

The summit and a reception that follows is sponsored by International Truck and Engine Corporation.

During show hours on Tuesday, Feb. 26, and Wednesday, Feb. 27, Work Truck Show attendees can take the latest commercially viable hybrid vehicles for a test drive as part of the popular Hybrid Ride-and-Drive. This year’s expanded course covers city streets to provide participants with a real-world proving ground. Participation is included with trade show registration and is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Additional commercially viable hybrid and alternative fuel trucks and equipment, as well as electric and Telematics technologies, will be displayed in the Advanced Truck Technology Pavilion on the show floor for three days beginning Tuesday, Feb. 26.

Attendees to the Pavilion will see exhibits from hybrid truck manufacturers, chassis manufacturers, system integrators, electrical component suppliers, Telematics system integrators, hydraulic component suppliers, alternative fuel producers and related industry organizations.

The Hybrid Ride-and-Drive and Advanced Truck Technology Pavilion are sponsored by EATON Hybrid Power Systems.

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