Natural Gas Hybrid to be Developed in California

Efficient Drivetrains, Inc. (EDI), a manufacturer of advanced plugin hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) and continuously variable transmission (CVT) solutions, has announced a partnership with Greenkraft, CALSTART and the California Energy Commission (CEC) to develop a first-of-its-kind Class 4 vehicle that combines the benefits of CNG and PHEV technology. The effort combines EDI’s PHEV powertrain with Greenkraft’s CNG-powered 14,500-pound, Class-4 medium duty truck. EDI’s says that it can improve the fuel economy of a conventional CNG medium duty truck by more than 40 percent. EDI’s announcement came simultaneously with a grant approval for the combined partnership by the CEC of funding from its Energy Research and Development Division. The $900,000 grant supports the state directive to accelerate research and development of advanced natural gas engine-hybrid electric vehicles applications.