Los Angeles Utility Deploys Plug-In Electric Bucket Truck

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) has put into service the first Odyne Systems plug-in system equipped bucket truck in California. Odyne is a manufacturer of hybrid systems to medium- and heavy-duty work trucks, and the LADWP is the largest water and power utility in the nation.

The truck features an International chassis and an Altec body and boom and was delivered as part of a South Coast Air Quality Management District program to support new energy-efficient vehicles. The Odyne hybrid system truck and a diesel-powered truck will be tracked and compared to determine the real-world benefits of the hybrid system. Each vehicle is equipped with a data acquisition system to record a comparative analysis.

The Odyne hybrid power system features hybrid technology combining electric power conversion, power control, and energy storage technology. The plug-in hybrid system lowers fuel consumption by up to 50% compared to traditional diesel or gasoline engines, reduces emissions, and provides quieter operation at the work site, according to the company.

The Odyne system is the only one approved to interface with Allison Transmission’s fully-automatic transmissions and uses a Remy electric motor in parallel with the existing drivetrain to provide launch assist and regenerative braking. At the job site, the Odyne plug-in hybrid system, featuring Johnson Controls’ lithium-ion battery packs, powers typical worksite applications with the engine off for a significantly longer time than other large truck hybrid systems, according to the company.