Tegna’s Washington, D.C. CBS affiliate WUSA is doing its part to help save the planet.
The station announced the addition of ECO9, an environmentally friendly, low emission live truck. The first of its kind in the broadcasting industry.
“Our environment matters and we’ve committed to making a positive impact through our work, which includes today’s introduction of ECO9,” said Richard Dyer, president and general manager of WUSA. “ECO9 might be the first of its kind, but we hope it will be a standard setter as we begin testing its capabilities here in the DMV.”
The 2022 Toyota Highlander XLE Hybrid was built by the engineers at Frontline Communications. ECO9 is also made possible by Washington Area Toyota Dealers who are serving as launch partner and exclusive sponsor.
The truck comes equipped with two fixed internal cameras and a 360-degree external camera.
“ECO9 is the next step in the evolution of broadcast trucks and is groundbreaking for WUSA9,” said Rob Gibson, WUSA director of technology and operations. “The live truck’s broadcasting system allows it to run completely on battery power during an entire news shift. This technology ensures we are serving the greater good of our communities by sharing the important news of the day, while simultaneously being responsible stewards of our natural resources.”
The station also said its new truck will be powered by a lithium-ion battery called a LiFePO4 battery, which consists of a chemical compound that makes it one of the safest batteries on the market. It’s expected to handle more than 5,000 cycles and can discharge close to zero and recharge. ECO9 also has solar supplemental charging, which allows trickle charging during the day while out in natural light.