The California Energy Commission has approved nearly $15 million in grants for several projects that will fund alternative-fuel armored security trucks and refuse trucks in in the state.

North American Repower LLC was awarded $3 million to demonstrate the efficiency and viability of six armored security trucks converted from diesel fuel to plug-in hybrid electric-renewable natural gas.

Security protocols usually require armored vehicles to have their engines running during each scheduled stop, which burns fuel and emits pollutants. The demonstration vehicles, which have near-zero emissions, will operate in an all-electric mode during stop-and-go usage and in hybrid-mode during continuous vehicle operation, according to the California Energy Commission.

North American Repower's vehicles will operate in Orange County and the urban portions of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

In addition, Transportation Power, Inc., received nearly $9 million for three separate projects: a heavy-duty electric garbage truck in the Sacramento region; an advanced battery-electric truck in San Diego County; and a heavy-duty electric yard tractor in the Central Valley.

Nearly $3 million was also awarded to Motiv Power Systems, Inc., to demonstrate an electric refuse and loader truck that will operate in the Sacramento region.

The California Energy Commission awarded the grants through its Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program (ARFVTP), which develops and deploys innovative technologies that transform California's fuel and vehicle types to help attain the state's climate change goals.