ANDERSON, Ind. – Anderson-based Bright Automotive has landed a $1.4 million contract with the U.S. Army to conduct a demonstration project on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

Bright will work with the Army’s department of Tactical Communications TACOM) to demonstrate the benefits of its parallel hybrid technology for non-combat military use. As part of the contract, Bright has launched Bright eSolutions, and installed Nigel Francis as vice president.

“We are thrilled to put our technology and experience to work helping the U.S. Army improve fuel efficiency,” Bright CEO John E. Waters. “And the ability to deliver electricity back to the grid is an important step in demonstrating the feasibility of operating military bases off the grid in the future.”

According to Bright, eSolutions will help automotive customers in vehicle electrification and improve efficiency to reduce cost and energy consumption. It will also work with the Army to demonstrate the ability of hybrid vehicles to deliver power to the grid.

Francis has previously worked with General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and Chrylser. He served as vice president of Vehicle Engineering for Mercedes-Benz Technology North America, leading the full-vehicle engineering function and worked as a global liaison with counter-part offices in Germany and China.

“Quite simply, no one in the industry possesses the same level of experience and leadership as Bright eSolutions,” Francis said in a written statement. “Members of our team have worked on some of the most fuel- efficient vehicles in the world, and we are ready to put that expertise to work for companies that are committed to change.”

Bright has developed a plug-in, hybrid-electric vehicle, called the Idea, aimed at the commercial fleet industry. The company is awaiting word on $450 million in low interest loans from the U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program.