The City of Cambridge will replace three aging refuse vehicles with plug-in hybrid trucks, partially thanks to grant funding.

Three older-model (2001, 2002, and 2005) trash packers in the city fleet will be replaced with new vehicles equipped with cleaner-burning diesel engines, plug-in hybrid technology from Odyne Systems, and clean idle systems that shut the engines off after five minutes of idling. The new vehicles are expected to reduce fuel consumption by 36% and reduce tailpipe emissions, according to a news release from the city.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection awarded the city with $500,000 in grant funding, which came from the Volkswagen settlement. The city will pay an additional $325,000 for the trucks.

In December 2019, the State of Massachusetts awarded $7.5 million in grants for 98 projects, including electric vehicles, propane-autogas school buses, and cleaner-diesel trucks.