Oshkosh gets $5 million in grants

Oshkosh Truck Corp. said it would receive two federal grants totaling $5 million to further develop ProPulse hybrid electric drive technology for heavy trucks. Oshkosh will receive a $4.5-million grant from the U.S. Dept. of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The funds will be used to partially defray costs of a three-year development program focused on hybrid propulsion systems for refuse trucks. The OEM will also receive $500,000 in research grants from the Dept. of Defense's National Automotive Center and U.S. Army Tank Automotive and Armaments Command to adapt the technology for military vehicles.Oshkosh's ProPulse technology is expected to boost fuel economy by as much as 40%. It uses a diesel engine to power an electric generator that directs power to the wheels, eliminating elements such as the torque converter, automatic transmission, transfer case and drive shafts.