California's South Coast Air Quality Management District has awarded Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide a $2.1 million contract to manufacture and deploy 20 Ford Escape plug-in hybrid electric vehicles for demonstration in Southern California.

The PHEV system will be based on integrating a lithium ion battery pack and management system from Advanced Lithium Power. (ALP), a Vancouver company in which Quantum holds a 20% stake. ALP's plug-in hybrid battery system will be designed to achieve a 35- to 40-mile battery-only range.