As part of the U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Cities program, Daimler Trucks North America has announced it will participate in at least seven of the 25 projects, representing $32.9 million in funding

. The funding will go toward the purchase and support of 638 hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles.

According to Daimler, the company helped to spearhead the submittal of these winning applications, which represent nearly $100 million in project value including over $84 million in vehicle costs and approximately $14 million in alternative fuel refueling infrastructure across the U.S.

"This award is important to our company on several levels," said Roger Nielsen, chief operating officer at DTNA. "It validates the efforts of our employees in their development of viable advanced technology and alternative fuel vehicles for the sustainable future of our customers."

The funding, which is possible through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, encourages fleet adoption of clean, fuel-efficient diesel and alternative energy technologies that will stimulate the economy, create "green" jobs, reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil and generate near-zero levels of emissions.

The DOE funding will be used to support the manufacture and sale of the following truck models: Freightliner business class M2e 106 hybrid electric trucks and tractors; Freightliner business class M2 112 LNG tractors; Freightliner business class M2 112 CNG trucks and tractors; Freightliner custom chassis hybrid electric walk-in vans; Freightliner custom chassis hydraulic hybrid walk-in vans; and Freightliner custom chassis CNG walk-in vans.

"Having experience in projects where clean air initiatives meet national and regional customer needs for cost-effective transportation, we saw tremendous opportunity here for Daimler leadership and Freightliner and FCCC hybrid and alternative fuel products," said Mark Lampert, senior vice president sales, DTNA.

More info: www.daimler-trucksnorthamerica.com