Aug. 25, 2008 - Penske has leased its first-ever fleet of fuel-efficient hybrid refrigerated trucks to a food rescue organization in New York City.

City Harvest is Penske's first customer for the new service. The group currently operates four 18-foot DuraStar Hybrid trucks to deliver food in New York. It plans to have converted its entire fleet of 16 trucks to hybrids by the end of next year.

"Our organization was founded on the notion of using resources wisely," explains Emory Edwards, City Harvest's director of food transportation.

The hybrid trucks may be particularly suited to driving in urban areas, according to Joe Cataudella, Penske's regional vice president for the New York Metro Area. "When the trucks travel at low speeds an electric motor kicks in, resulting in reduced fuel consumption and emissions," he says.