Allison Transmission is getting a grant worth $62.8 million from the Dept. of Energy to help further Allison's effort to design and produce a cost-competitive hybrid drive system.
Since 2003, Allison said it has produced nearly 2,300 hybrid propulsion systems for use in transit buses operating in 126 cities. According to the company's calculations, over 143 million mi. have been accumulated, saving an estimated 7.6 million gals. of fuel while eliminating 75,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
Lawrence Dewey, Allison's chairman and CEO, explained that the next step is to modify this hybrid drive system for commercial trucks. Dewey added that Allison will produce its new commercial-duty truck hybrid system in Indianapolis, collaborating with U.S.-based suppliers to produce energy storage systems and other hybrid system components.
