The California Energy Commission has approved more than $10 million in grants for four projects demonstrating medium- and heavy-duty vehicle technologies using battery-electric or fuel-cell powertrains.

The Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program projects include:

• $2.9 million to CALSTART, Inc. to buy four 33-foot BYD battery-electric buses, which will be built at BYD’s California facility and demonstrated in disadvantaged communities in Los Angeles.
• $2.8 million to Motiv Power Systems to build and test five Class C battery-electric school buses in Reedley, Colton and Los Angeles. The buses will be electric versions of the Starcraft Quest XL (eQuest) bus platform.
• $2.6 million to Hydrogenics USA Inc. for a fuel-cell Class 8 drayage truck to transport shipping containers from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach along a 150-mile loop to a rail network
• $2.1 million for a fuel-cell bus (New Flyer bus platform, Siemens drive system) to be tested in the Coachella Valley.

Source: California Energy Commission via Green Car Congress