House Approves Bill for Heavy-Duty Hybrid Trucks

House Committee on Science and Technology (9/9) – The House approved H.R. 445, Heavy Duty Hybrid Vehicle Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 2009, authored by Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R-WI) by voice vote. The bill enhances the DOE’s research program in heavy duty hybrid trucks. Sensenbrenner’s bill would create a grant program to support the development and commercialization of hybrid trucks.  It would also require the Department of Energy to conduct a study of alternative power train designs for use in advanced heavy duty hybrid vehicles.  Finally, the Secretary would be charged with establishing a pilot program testing the effects of the widespread use of plug-in hybrid vehicles on the domestic electric power grid.