Global specialist in energy management Schneider Electric has contracted Orange County Choppers to build their first hybrid motorcycle about which Paul Teutul , Sr. says it will be "capable of traveling farther, without refueling or recharging, than any other OCC bike in history." The parallel hybrid powertrain will be supplied by Schneider Electric while the guys at OCC bring in their design ideas as well as top quality build.

Obviously, you’re gonna see the whole story and the actual bike during a future American Chopper episode scheduled for next year, unless you’re a selected Schneider Electric contractor partner, meaning that you’ll see the hybrid chopper later this year and even get the change to win one of the eight such bikes that OCC and Schneider Electric give away.

After the jump, we’ve attached the video and the press release that resulted from this partnership. We’re eagerly waiting for the actual bike.

PRESS RELEASE:

Schneider Electric Challenges Orange County Choppers to Build Their First Hybrid Motorcycle

SEATTLE, WA -- 09/14/09 -- 2009 NECA (Booth #600 and #305) -- Schneider Electric announced today it will partner with custom motorcycle manufacturer Orange County Choppers (OCC) to design and build the first hybrid motorcycle in OCC history. Designed through a collaboration of Schneider Electric employees and the OCC design team, the Schneider Electric custom chopper will exemplify the company's efforts to make energy solutions safe, reliable, efficient, productive and green. To kick-off this partnership, Orange County Choppers founder, Paul Teutul, Sr. will be at Booth #600 at the 2009 NECA Show on Monday, September 14 from noon to 1:30 p.m.

"Schneider Electric is challenging Orange County Choppers to build a custom motorcycle that will support our company mission of helping people make the most of their energy," said Amelia Huntington, President, Schneider Electric U.S. "This hybrid motorcycle will employ a built-in intelligent energy management system that will allow it to be more efficient and productive by considering multiple variables to select the best energy source available. Schneider Electric employs the same management methodology to help our customers do more while using less energy in buildings, data centers, industry and residential markets. As one of the premier builders of custom motorcycles, Orange County Choppers will bring an unprecedented level of expertise and creativity to showcasing our mission through their design."

"The goal is that the Schneider Electric hybrid chopper will be capable of traveling farther, without refueling or recharging, than any other OCC bike in history," said Paul Teutul, Sr., founder, Orange County Choppers. "The ability to help design and build a hybrid motorcycle of this caliber is a unique opportunity and our team is up to the challenge."

Once the Schneider Electric custom motorcycle is complete, Schneider Electric, along with Paul Teutul, Sr., will kick-off a road show that will give Schneider Electric electrical contractor partners a sneak preview of the theme bike before the scheduled American Chopper episode airs on TLC in 2010. Schneider Electric is committed to empowering electrical contracting firms so they better understand emerging trends like energy management and sustainability, and are best equipped to strategically address them in their marketplace.

In addition, APC by Schneider Electric, a global leader in integrated critical power and cooling services, will be giving away Orange County Choppers production bikes to eight electrical contracting firms in the United States and Canada. The promotion is designed to provide the electrical contractor firms with additional information regarding the integration of Schneider Electric and APC solutions to help develop and expand their businesses. Full details of the promotion will be revealed during the Schneider Electric theme bike roadshow later this year.

For more information on Schneider Electric and to take the Schneider Electric Market Virtual Tour of Energy Efficiency Solutions please visit Booth #305 or www.schneider-electric.com. For more information on APC please visit www.apc.com or call 800-877-4080.

About Schneider Electric

As a global specialist in energy management with operations in more than 100 countries, Schneider Electric offers integrated solutions across multiple market segments, including leadership positions in energy and infrastructure, industrial processes, building automation, and data centres/networks, as well as a broad presence in residential applications. Focused on making energy safe, reliable, and efficient, the company's 114,000 employees achieved sales of more than 18.3 billion euros in 2008, through an active commitment to help individuals and organisations "Make the most of their energy(TM)."

www.schneider-electric.com

About APC by Schneider Electric

APC by Schneider Electric, a global leader in critical power and cooling services, provides industry leading product, software and systems for home, office, data center and factory floor applications. Backed by the strength, experience, and wide network of Schneider Electric's Critical Power & Cooling Services, APC delivers well planned, flawlessly installed and maintained solutions throughout their lifecycle. Through its unparalleled commitment to innovation, APC delivers pioneering, energy efficient solutions for critical technology and industrial applications. In 2007, Schneider Electric acquired APC and combined it with MGE UPS Systems to form Schneider Electric's Critical Power & Cooling Services Business Unit, which recorded 2008 revenue of EUR 2,6 billion (including APC-MGE sales of $3.7 billion) and employed 12,000 people worldwide. APC solutions include uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), precision cooling units, racks, physical security and design and management software, including APC's InfraStruXure® architecture, the industry's most comprehensive integrated power, cooling, and management solution. Schneider Electric, with 114,000 employees and operations in 100 countries, achieved sales of EUR 18,3 billion in 2008. All trademarks are the property of their owners. www.apc.com