Odyne Systems, which makes hybrid systems for large trucks, will be able to deploy more than 120 plug-in hybrid work trucks for municipalities and utilities, thanks to a $45.4 million U.S. Department of Energy award.

The contract granted to Odyne by the Electric Power Research Institute directs funding from DOE’s Transportation Electrification initiative, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) of California and other parties in a cost-share arrangement with users toward the development and supply of advanced plug-in hybrid and Smart Grid / Smart Charging technology for trucks over 14,000 pounds.

More than 120 Odyne advanced plug-in hybrid systems will be installed on work trucks for partners in the program, including investor-owned utilities and municipal electric companies.

Johnson Controls will supply the Lithium-ion batteries to power the trucks, made at its advanced manufacturing facility in Holland, Mich.

Odyne systems are at work on a wide variety of truck chassis in various applications and are sold through a worldwide distribution network including Altec, DUECO, and Terex Utilities. The system reduces fleet operating and maintenance costs, and, depending on duty cycle, enables large trucks to obtain fuel economy improvements of up to 50% or more compared to traditional diesel or gasoline engines, according to the company.

Odyne completed a $2.9 million cost share project with the DOE to develop an advanced plug-in hybrid system for large trucks, has delivered hybrid systems through the DOE Clean Cities program and is currently working with the SCAQMD and the California Energy Commission on separate cost share projects to deploy the company’s proprietary hybrid systems in Los Angeles County area and other regions of California.