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Volvo Trucks will send electric trucks in California soon, in a programme to showcase what big trucks tin can do when they're running solely on big batteries. Over the next twelvemonth, the California-focused programme for the VNR Electrical full-size regional truck will aggrandize to more EV truck types, upwardly to and including the largest tractors for 80,000 tractor-trailer rigs. Volvo's rollout includes recharging systems too every bit insurance and analytic services.

Alternative-energy trucks are starting to gain popularity. In add-on to Volvo, makers of large electric trucks include Freightliner/Daimler, Mack, Paccar (Kenworth, Peterbilt, DAF), Navistar. There are besides startups such every bit Tesla and Nikola. Some of the first electric trucks are designed-for-diesel bodies with motors in place of engines and battery packs attached to the frame rail behind/under the cabs. Driving range? Volvo says that'southward still being formulated.

Volvo VNR electric truck cutaway. The battery packs live where fuel tanks would on the diesel fuel version. Volvo says they slide in and out for maintenance.

Volvo describes the outset VNR Electric trucks as demonstration units based on proven propulsion and free energy storage technology now used in the Volvo Fe Electric trucks, and builds on sister company Volvo Buses that has sold more than than four,000 electrified buses since 2010, the company says. According to Volvo'southward Johan Agebrand, "The Volvo VNR is ideal for applications like heavy urban distribution, drayage and other regional applications where electrical trucks will outset have the greatest impact … the improver of an all-electric powertrain [to the VNR model] provides even greater opportunities to expand its footprint in the regional-haul market."

This EV-truck stuff has a lot of buzzwords and acronyms. Skip the next paragraph from Volvo if you start to feel faint betwixt the acronyms and the buzzword-bingo phrases innovative, holistic approach, unique opportunity, cease-to-end electrification coordination, and sustainable freight solution. From a Volvo release:

[Volvo Trucks North America's (VTNA)] introduction of the Volvo VNR [the truck model] electrical models are part of an innovative partnership, known as LIGHTS (Low Impact Greenish Heavy Transport Solutions) between the Volvo Group, California's South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), and manufacture leaders in transportation and electrical charging infrastructure.

"The LIGHTS projection is a truly unique opportunity to showcase a holistic arroyo to electrification of the freight send industry as we handle ongoing challenges including electricity generation and battery optimization," said [VTNA president Peter] Voorhoeve. "We appreciate that the California Air Resource Board (CARB) and the SCAQMD have recognized our leadership and trusted us to oversee this project that will ultimately effect in the commercialization of fully-electric heavy-duty trucks. In addition to introducing the VNR Electrical, through LIGHTS nosotros volition bring a complete sustainable freight solution with finish-to-end electrification coordination with our many partners."

Translation: Using a version of the Volvo VNR truck converted to run on battery ability, the automaker is taking role in a California pilot project to reduce pollution from big trucks used regionally for local deliveries, drayage (short-haul freight, such as cargo from the Port of Long Beach to a warehouse), and regional but not cross-country shipping. California's main air pollution board (CARB) will provide $45 million to the LA-region pollution lath (SCAQMD)to run the projection. The country already requires ships docked at the big ports to run on shore power (electricity) rather than diesel or ghastly muddy bunker fuel (think: liquid tar). In that location's a parallel move to shift the port equipment (big forklift trucks, or tugs) to electric.

The Volvo Fe Electric, already in service in Europe (here every bit a garbage truck), provides the drivetrain for the Volvo VNR Electrical.

For its function, Volvo won't simply sell trucks. It will lease them as well and will provide (and finance) charging equipment, data on optimizing routes to maximize battery life, and study uptime. One such single-cheque plan would cover the charter payments, maintenance, insurance, charging equipment and uptime services.

Trucking companies are onboard with low-pollution locomotion as long equally it's reliable. They recall teething problems earlier in the century with trucks converted to run on liquified natural gas, problems such equally range, active direction of the fuel that is liquid but really wants to be a gas, understanding the differences between cold and warm LNG, weight issues (LNG tanks that friction match diesel fuel'due south range are bigger and heavier), and reliability. There is some involvement in plug-in hybrid trucks, too, that could travel several miles on battery power, or run cooling and refrigeration systems while the truck is parked.

The Volvo-California plan volition start with a straight truck (all axles on a single frame; no trailer) and a tractor (to pull a separate trailer) with loaded weights upward to 66,00o pounds; drivetrains include four×2 (2 axles, rear beam driven), 6×2 liftable (3 axles, forward rear axle lifts when lightly loaded), and 6×iv (three axles, with ii rear axles driven). Of the first ii dozen trial-run trucks, the majority will exist 66,000-pound solar day cabs (no overnight runs) and a handful more will take eighty,000-pound (so-called Course viii) capacities.

Come up 2020, Volvo intends to move beyond the SoCal pilot plan and sell or lease trucks to a wider range of customers. It volition also move from medium-big to large trucks. The biggest trucks volition accept a sleeper cab for local/regional hauls merely they're not — notwithstanding — intended to go cantankerous-country. After California, Volvo says it would expand, still a limited regional rollout, covering the Pacific coast, adding Oregon and Washington, plus Texas and some northeastern states.

Big trucks will need a separate charging infrastructure, and for a big charging station, they'll demand a power filigree designed for a pocket-sized city. According to Volvo, Southern California Edison would demand 6-14 months to build out the infrastructure for about fifty charging stations.

Anton Wahlman, an analyst with The Street who tracked the Tesla Semi when it was appear two years ago with a claimed range of 500 miles, offered this perspective of what it takes to recharge a fleet of trucks going long distances:

If you lot are going to charge such a truck [Tesla Semi] to 80 percentage in 30 minutes, God help the electricity grid. It will be similar plugging in a minor metropolis to the grid at that particular interstate rest-stop. Tin you spell brownouts? — no, make that blackouts.

At media briefings earlier in the month, Volvo was asked virtually range — the obvious question — and the answer was qualified: There needs to be more real-earth testing. Also, Volvo says, an electric truck is even more sensitive to private drivers' styles than the same driver in a diesel truck. Other truckmakers have noted for local and close-in trucking, you don't want to booty around bombardment ability yous don't need, then modular packs make sense. On a diesel 18-wheeler getting half-dozen mpg, to add 100 miles of range, y'all'd load an extra 120 pounds of diesel. For a big EV truck, y'all'd demand an extra 2,000 pounds of battery pack, roughly, to add 100 miles of range.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk claimed in 2017 that the Tesla Semi will get upward to 500 miles of range. Assuming Tesla is a leader in free energy-efficiency and also in hyperbole, then information technology's likely regional-trucks are capable of, and need, a range of 300-400 miles. For regional trucks, that's well-nigh the most they're chosen on for a day trip or overnight out-and-dorsum trip. A local-only truck might demand 200-300 miles of range, possibly split over two shifts, say 6 AM to x PM, with the overnight hours reserved for recharging at the depot.

The big win remains the belief that electrified trucks, like electrical cars and SUVs, will require less maintenance, accept fewer on-the-route breakdowns, and be less expensive in the very long haul.

Now read:

  • Amazon Buys 100,000 Electric Trucks from Rivian (Total EV SUVs, Pickups Congenital to Engagement: 0)
  • Tesla Semi: 500-Mile Range, Cheaper Than Diesel, Quick to Charge [2017]
  • Tesla Pushes Pickup Truck Unveiling to November