KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - The U.S. Department of Energy is giving a Kansas City company $10 million to produce all-electric commercial trucks.
The grant to Smith Electric Vehicles U.S. Corp. was announced Wednesday. Smith plans to use the money in the construction and hiring for its new truck manufacturing plant planned near the Kansas City International Airport.
A number of companies, including AT&T, Coca-Cola, Frito-Lay and Staples, have already bought Smith's all-electric trucks or have agreed to use them in the future.
Smith currently builds its truck in Europe.
Commerce Secretary Gary Locke was to discuss the grant during an appearance in Kansas City Wednesday.
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