Eaton will help produce plug-in hybrid electric power systems for 378 vehicles, as part of $45.4 million government grant.
The funding is part of the $2.4 billion in grants deployed by the U.S. Department of Energy under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Eaton will lend a hand to grant recipient South Coast Air Quality Management District and other affiliates, including the Electrical Power Research Institute, Altec Industries, Compact Power, Ford Motor Company and Southern California Edison, to deploy the plug-in hybrid electric commercial vehicles to more than 50 utility and municipal fleets nationwide.

"By providing our sustainable, energy-saving technologies to power the vehicles as well as the electrical infrastructure support to help keep them running, we believe we can provide Eaton customers with the technology they need to move plug-in hybrids to the next level," said Alexander Cutler, Eaton chairman and CEO.

The whole process of getting these vehicles on the road will take place over 18 months, and the vehicles will be evaluated over a two-year period.

"The production and demonstration of this fleet of vehicles is a significant step in driving PHEV technology beyond the personal transportation platform to a daily work application," said Mark Duvall, director of electric transportation at Electrical Power Research Institute.

The hybrids will be built using the Ford F-550 chassis, with a total range of at least 300 miles. According to Eaton, the vehicle will be capable of saving 70 percent in fuel when compared to a standard utility vehicle.

Eaton and EPRI will work on developing plug-in station technology for use by utilities and other customers across the country.

For more information, visit www.eaton.com.