CITY TAKES HYBRID TRASH TRUCKS OFF THE ROAD 60 SIDELINED BY TROUBLES WITH THROTTLE.

Byline: Kerry Cavanaugh Staff Writer

Los Angeles sanitation officials have pulled 60 brand-new hybrid trash trucks off San Fernando Valley's streets after the throttles in some of them stuck, causing the trucks to accelerate without the drivers' control.

There were no collisions or injuries while the new trucks were on the road, but city fleet managers were troubled when six truck drivers reported similar problems.

The $250,000 trucks are off the road while manufacturers try to fix the problem. In the meantime, they're being replaced with older-model hybrid trucks that also use diesel and liquid natural gas.

``If you have one vehicle with the throttle sticking you think it's an equipment problem, but when you have a couple you begin to think it's a fleet problem,'' said Jim Bonnville, director of fleet services for the general services department. ``For the public safety and worker safety we thought it best to pull them out of service.''

Managers at Clean Air Power, which developed the dual-fuel equipment together with engine manufacturer Caterpillar and chassis manufacturer Peterbilt, said they're investigating the problem and want to get the more environmentally friendly trucks back on the road immediately.

``We all agree we want to get to the bottom of this thing,'' said Kevin Campbell, general manager of vehicle programs for Clean Air Power.

Trash haulers in the Los Angeles area have to buy alternative fuel trucks under rules adopted by the South Coast Air Quality Management District in 2000. Those rules are being challenged at the U.S. Supreme Court.

Los Angeles has purchased 381 trash trucks since 2000, making it the largest hybrid fleet in the nation, Bonnville said. The city is largely satisfied with the trucks - though they do present some unique challenges, such as requiring specially trained mechanics and specially designed shops to deal with the liquefied natural gas.

The hybrid trucks use about 20 percent diesel and 80 percent liquefied natural gas and are about 50 percent cleaner than traditional diesel trucks.

The dual-fuel trucks need up to 15 percent more maintenance on the fuel system than diesel trucks, said Alvin Blain, interim manager of the city's General Services Department.

But that extra downtime was expected with the more complicated equipment and new fuel type, and the city negotiated a seven-year warranty with the manufacturer that provides an on-call mechanic.

``We had some learning curves and we worked through them,'' Blain said.

Kerry Cavanaugh, [phone]

kerry.cavanaugh(at)dailynews.com

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(1 -- 2) Above, a steering wheel tag marks one of L.A.'s 60 hybrid trash trucks taken out of service. At right, city truck yard supervisor Gilbert Palomares walks past the new diesel-fuel-and-natural-gas buses not working Thursday because of throttle problems.

Tina Burch/Staff Photographer