Dec. 18--As the incoming presidential administration emphasizes renewable and cleaner energy, and defense remains a big priority, Monrovia-based AeroVironment Inc. is well-positioned to reap the benefits, analysts said.

Among those benefits was the company's announcement Thursday that Balqon Corp., a developer of heavy-duty trucks and tractors, has purchased technology that will help it run more efficient and cleaner-running vehicles in the Port of Los Angeles.

Balqon purchased AV's new high-voltage PosiCharge fast-charge system as part of the port's program to replace internal combustion yard tractors with electric propulsion vehicles.

The system can charge up to four heavy-duty electric dock yard tractors at a time, quickly pumping enough energy into them during short breaks. The powering system eliminates the need for battery swapping among vehicles, since the battery is always charged. It also makes the vehicles and the flow of port containers more efficient while helping to reduce emissions, they said.

Efficiency was vital for Balwinder Samra, CEO and president of Balqon, which this year won the right to build the port's electric-powered tractor fleet.

"In our applications it was important that we had a fast charger to reduce the charging time ... and that we were able to charge these vehicles during any type of downtime we had," he said.

Samra also pointed to the Monrovia firm's experience in the market.

And with cleaner

air a hot topic and goal of local leaders, ports, cities and the Obama administration, AeroVironment officials are capitalizing on that experience.

"We've got our fast-charge technology, which we think can be instrumental in helping electronic vehicles of all shapes and sizes be much more practical," said Steve Gitlin, director of marketing strategy for AeroVironment.

Balqon Corp. manufactures all of the electric yard tractors at the port, which is in the midst of its Clean Air Action Plan, with a goal to cut air emissions in half by 2011, port spokeswoman Theresa Adams Lopez said.

"All these new technologies create new jobs, and it's cleaner running technology," she said. "It jump-starts green-collar jobs. It all is good ... new jobs for cleaner air."

Among those jobs are those created by a company like AeroVironment, which is booming, analysts said.

"This is a firm that is absolutely on fire," said Erik Olbeter, an analyst who tracks the company for Pacific Crest Securities.

And the spark over its energy efficiency business has heated up in the last few months, he said.