WAUKESHA, WI - Odyne Systems LLC has appointed Terex Utilities as a distributor of Odyne's plug-in hybrid systems for medium- and heavy-duty trucks.

The move is an effort to expand distribution and support of the systems to additional states. Odyne Systems develops and markets turnkey hybrid solutions for fleets featuring driving cycles with a high percentage of starting and stopping as well as jobsite idle time. Odyne's modular system can be installed on a wide variety of new and existing vehicles, reducing fuel consumption by up to 50 percent (depending on application), lowering emissions and reducing engine noise, Odyne Systems said.

Sales orders domestically have climbed in 2011, and the new distribution agreement with Terex is expected to expand opportunities. Odyne estimates an addressable market of 250,000 units worldwide per year for new and retrofit work truck hybrid systems.

"Our new distribution agreement with Terex means we will have comprehensive coverage of the North American market and global reach to meet customer needs for lower-emission vehicles that consume less fuel and operate quietly," said Joe Dalum, CEO of Odyne Systems.

Odyne's plug-in hybrid truck systems use an electric motor in parallel with the existing drive train, providing launch assist and regenerative braking. Once at the jobsite, vehicles can function without using engine power. Instead, workers can use the hybrid plug-in battery system to power worksite applications, including equipment mounted to the truck.

Fleet managers often have preferences for a certain type of chassis, fuel type or vehicle application configuration. The Odyne system can be applied to a wide range of vehicle configurations without any changes to an OEM engine or transmission, the company said. The system also does not affect the original EPA certification of the engine.

The Odyne plug-in hybrid systems can be used on many work truck platforms, including bucket trucks, digger derricks and air compressor truck applications.

The battery system on the Odyne plug-in hybrid units can be recharged by three different means:

1.    Plugging in: Plugging in the vehicle to use electric utility grid energy.
2.    Regenerative braking: The electric motor generator slows the vehicle and uses "captured" energy to recharge the battery system.
3.    Engine recharging in the field: When the battery system is depleted to its maximum allowable level at the jobsite, the engine automatically starts and recharges the system. The engine then turns off. Truck-mounted equipment continues to operate without interruption during the recharging process.