The California Energy Commission has awarded nearly $9 million in grants to three companies to encourage the manufacturing of heavy-duty EVs and components in the state.

Proterra received a $3 million grant to develop a manufacturing line for battery-electric transit buses in the City of Industry in the San Gabriel Valley. The location is in the heart of the Los Angeles region, the largest bus market in the US. Existing Proterra customer Foothill Transit recently placed an order for an additional 13 electric buses.

TransPower won a grant of just under 3 million bucks to manufacture electric powertrain components for Class 8 trucks, including an inverter-charger unit, battery management system, automated manual transmission, and power control and accessory subsystem.

Last December, TransPower showcased a Class 8 battery-electric truck that gets 60 to 120 miles of drive time under normal operating conditions, with a hauling capacity of up to 80,000 pounds.

Efficient Drivetrains, Inc. (EDI) scored almost 3 mil to update a manufacturing facility in Milpitas, California, where it will produce powertrain components for hybrid and battery-electric vehicles, as well as conversions.

In March, EDI introduced a Class 3 utility truck based on its PHEV drivetrain that it says reduces emissions and fuel use by up to 80%.

Source: California Energy Commission via Green Car Congress 
Image: Nicolas Raymond/Flickr