Mario's goes hybrid (BC)

[TowNews]

Mario's Towing adds BC's first hybrid tow-truck to their fleet

 

 

Mario’s Towing has added a hybrid tow-truck to their fleet, believed to be the first of its kind in British Columbia.

 

It’s a small step towards sustainability being applauded by Kelowna city councillor Loyal Wooldridge.

 

“In government, we’re often asked to create policy around climate change and we can do that but the biggest impacts come from the people making responsible choices and when other people see that they too will step forward and make those responsible choices,” says Wooldridge. 

 

He said small steps by local businesses can create a better world overall by encouraging other businesses to get involved. 

 

Mario’s Towing general manager Nicholas Moretto says the idea started a year ago when he went to Gemm Diesel Ltd. to get the custom truck built.

 

“We ordered in this hybrid Hino and it’s built-in Japan —  it took about between nine and ten months to actually get over here,” said Dan Scott, sales and finance manager at Gemm Diesel Ltd. “Once we bring it in, it gets sent off to a bodybuilder that installs the tilt-deck towing.”

 

Mario’s added decals to the truck to showcase the fact that it is a hybrid but also a nod to first responders. 

 

“There can’t be a better time to thank our front line responders right now for the global pandemic we’re all going through. So we thought of such an opportunity to say thank you to them because, without them, I don't know where we’d all be right now,” said Moretto. 

 

Scott explains the hybrid truck is a combination of battery power and diesel.

 

“Once you come to a full stop the engine shuts off, so you have zero emissions. Once you take your foot off the brake it starts back up, using the battery, and you take off using the power assist.”

 

“You’re not losing any power by any stretch, what you’re doing using less fuel and emissions, of course,” he said, adding the design also conserves the trucks brakes

 

The truck is equipped with a rechargeable battery just below the deck. The cab is designed with fewer blind spots and the lights shut-off while idling, which is big for the towing company. 

 

“It was a huge feature we focused on… it’s great to be able to sit there now and not be idling,” said Moretto. 

 

He knows how important it is to take care of the planet not only for him but for his two kid’s futures. 

 

“I think we need to be better corporate citizens, all of us, I think we need to make the attempt to drive a little cleaner in the environment and we have to live here so let's look at the future and be less detrimental to it every day,” said Moretto.

 

This is the first one for the fleet, but Moretto says they will be adding a few more.

 

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