This week, the U.S. Department of Energy awarded $115 million in grants to truck and engine makers for projects to develop cleaner, more efficient products. Daimler Trucks North America got the largest single chunk – $40 million – through the 21st Century Truck Technology Partnership. The goal of the program is to improve vehicle freight efficiency by 50 percent over the next five years.

Daimler has already been working with companies like Eaton on the development of hybrid trucks and buses for several years. Daimler’s Detroit Diesel unit has also incorporated Bluetec technology like common rail injection, particulate filters and urea injection SCR systems into its truck engines. Detroit Diesel has cut its NOx emissions by over 80 percent while improving fuel efficiency by five percent. The press release is after the jump.