Auto parts manufacturer Johnson Controls has secured a contract to supply Lithium-ion batteries to power plug-in hybrid trucks from the US Department of Energy (DOE).
The deal is part of DOE's electrification initiative, under which 120 work trucks that will be used by the publicly owned utilities and municipal electric companies will be powered by the advanced hybrid power systems from Odyne Systems using Johnson Controls' batteries.
DOE has granted funding of about $45m for the development of the vehicles, which will be carried out by Odyne in collaboration with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the South Coast Air Quality Management District of California.
Odyne's hybrid power system is claimed to allow the trucks to improve their fuel economy by about 50% compared to traditional diesel or gasoline engines depending on their use.
Johnson Controls' manufacturing facility in Holland, Michigan will produce the lithium-ion batteries for the trucks.
