AQMD to monitor PHEV development

The South Coast Air Quality Management District was awarded a $45.4 million federal economic stimulus grant last week to develop a fleet of nearly 400 plug-in hybrid trucks and shuttle buses.

The grant is part of a $2.4 billion federal program, funded through the stimulus package, to advance the development of electric batteries and vehicles in the United States. AQMD will oversee and test the development of utility vehicles, delivery trucks and shuttle buses. Currently many utility vehicles are kept running while employees perform tasks, such as raising workers into the air in bucket lifts.

The fleet of demonstration vehicles would allow such functions to be powered with batteries, to reduce emissions, explained AQMD executive officer Barry Wallerstein.The grant covers half of the $90 million project. The other half is funded predominantly with private funds, largely from the producers of the vehicles to be tested.

Source : San Gabriel Valley Tribune, August 8th, 2009