Heavy-duty engine specialist Cummins (NYSE: CMI) has announced plans to acquire Silicon Valley-based Efficient Drivetrains, Inc. (EDI), a producer of hybrid and electric powertrain solutions for commercial vehicles that has often been featured in Charged.

Cummins has been investigating the possibilities of electrification for a decade, but has been turning up the voltage over the past few months, with the acquisitions of Johnson Matthey Battery Systems and former electric motorcycle maker Brammo.

EDI’s portfolio of hybrid drivetrain systems, the EDI PowerDrive series, has logged over six million miles in fleet settings in the US and China. Cummins says that EDI’s hybrid system is the most versatile on the market today, able to switch in real time among fully electric, series and parallel modes.

“As power needs and technologies continue to evolve, Cummins remains committed to innovations that will deliver the right power solutions for the right applications at the right time to help our customers succeed,” said Cummins CEO Tom Linebarger.

“Vehicle OEMs and fleets evaluating new electric and hybrid technologies prefer to work with well-established companies that have the depth and resources to provide the support that’s needed to scale into high-volume mass production,” said Joerg Ferchau, EDI’s CEO.

Source: Cummins