Fifteen states and Washington, DC have announced that they will follow California’s lead by doing away with diesel in favor of switching to electrify all heavy-duty trucks, vans, and buses, in what could be one of the most significant efforts to reduce harmful diesel engine pollution in the United States. It could also be a big development in the fight for environmental justice because emissions from diesel-powered commercial vehicles disproportionately harm…
Read MoreManufacturers Betting on Hydrogen vs Electricity
Hyundai Motor Co. has an ambitious plan to wean the global trucking industry from fossil fuels by creating green commercial trucks with the same power and range as their diesel counterparts, choosing hydrogen over electricity. The South Korean automaker unveiled the cornerstone of its strategy in Atlanta last month by showing the concept of its planned HDC-6 Neptune hydrogen fuel cell truck. Styled like a 1930s Art Deco steam locomotive,…
Read MoreBosch to Supply Nikola Electric Powertrains
Nikola Motor Co. and parts supply company Bosch will jointly develop powertrain systems for the Nikola One and Nikola Two, hydrogen-electric Class 8 semi-trucks scheduled to reach the market by 2021, the companies announced Tuesday. Separately, Nikola confirmed that the trucking startup completed a $110 million funding round in late June to bring its total to $900 million. Under the powertrain agreement, Bosch will supply Nikola with its eAxle technology that houses…
Read MoreCummins Unveils New All Electric Tractor Trailer
Cummins, a leading maker of diesel and natural gas engines for commercial trucks, unveiled a Class 7 heavy-duty truck cab Tuesday featuring an advanced 140 kWh battery pack that it will sell to bus operators and commercial truck fleets starting in 2019. The 18,000-pound tractor cab, dubbed AEOS after one of the four-winged horses driving the chariot of the Sun God, Helios, across the sky in Greek mythology, is just…
Read MoreMitsubishi Fuso Begins Electric Truck Production
Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus has announced the start of small-scale series production of its electric medium-duty truck, the Fuso eCanter. All eCanter trucks for U.S. and European markets will be produced at the production plant in Tramagal, Portugal, in line with conventional diesel Fuso trucks. Mitsubishi Fuso introduced the eCanter at the Work Truck Show earlier this year, saying that it would be made available in the U.S., Europe, and…
Read MoreCummins Plans for Electric Class 8 Powertrains
Diesel Engine maker Cummins expects to start building and selling electric powertrains for transit bus applications in 2019, with a “longer-range version” available by 2020, as the OEM believes electricity will become a key commercial vehicle power source in the near future. “We know things about electrification that maybe others don’t,” explained Julie Furber, executive director of electrification business development for Cummins, explained in an hour-long conference call with reporters…
Read MoreIdle Free Electric Truck Stop Testing To Start
A Duke Energy project to fund electrification at a North Carolina truck stop is projected to save 25,000 gallons of truck fuel annually due to not having to idle. Big Boy’s Truck Stop in the town of Kenly, will soon have 24 truck electrification stations where drivers can pay to plug in their vehicles, offering an economical way to provide electricity and hot or cold air during overnight stays that avoids…
Read MorePeterbilt’s New Electric Class 8 Garbage Truck
Heavy-Duty Truck giant Peterbilt took the wraps off a battery-electric Class 8 garbage truck at the ongoing WasteExpo 2017 in New Orleans. Peterbilt already offers a line of diesel Class 8 garbage trucks. It is exploring an electric-drive system in order to help customers meet often stringent state and local emissions regulations, said Scott Newhouse, Peterbilt’s chief engineer. Electric drive systems also can significantly increase fuel efficiency, a priority for most…
Read More2017 Thor Motor Coach Quantum KM24 Recall
Thor Motor Coach (TMC) is recalling certain 2017 Quantum KM24 motorhomes. The power supply wire for the steps was incorrectly attached to a 50 amp circuit breaker instead of being connected to a 20 amp circuit breaker. CONSEQUENCE: Should the step circuit be overloaded, the breaker may not trip as intended, increasing the risk of a fire. REMEDY: TMC will notify owners, and dealers will relocate the power wire for…
Read MoreTesla to Unveil Electric Semi Truck this Fall
Tesla Inc. plans to unveil an electric semi-truck in September, Elon Musk, the electric car company’s chief executive, said Thursday. Musk said last year that the company was working on an electric truck but has provided few details except to say it would have self-driving capabilities like other new Tesla models. On Twitter Thursday morning the tech entrepreneur said, “Tesla Semi truck unveil set for September. Team has done an…
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