Efficient Drivetrains Inc. (EDI), Greenkraft Inc. and CALSTART are collaborating to develop a Class 4 commercial vehicle that pairs compressed natural gas (CNG) with plug-in hybrid electric vehicle technology.
The 14,500 GVW vehicle will combine EDI's PHEV powertrain with Greenkraft's CNG system to yield fuel economy improvements of more than 40% over CNG alone, the companies say. In certain duty cycles with shorter daily mileage requirements or where periodic plug-in recharging is possible throughout the day, it may even be possible to completely eliminate the use of CNG, achieve 100% all-electric zero-emissions vehicle operations, and achieve an effective MPGe of 26.9 – an improvement of 300% over the baseline CNG truck, they add.
‘The technology possesses tremendous potential for commercial viability and can play an essential role in helping California meet its long-term carbon reduction and short-term zero-emissions goals,’ says Joerg Ferchau, co-founder and CEO of EDI.
The California Energy Commission recently awarded the partnership a $900,000 grant from its Energy Research and Development Division to support the project.
