Daimler Truck AG will become a major anchor shareholder in German high-tech engineering company Manz AG through a capital increase of around 10%, subject to approval by the relevant antitrust authorities. In addition, in a first step both companies have signed a cooperation agreement on a strategic partnership to establish... Read more →

Power management company Eaton introduced a family of 48-volt DC-DC converters for diesel-powered commercial vehicles that can be used to power accessories such as antilock brakes and lighting. Unlike competitive offerings, Eaton’s DC-DC converters are operational in ambient temperatures up to 85 ˚C and boast 97% design efficiency. DC-DC converters... Read more →

Volvo Trucks is opening its first battery assembly plant. Located in Ghent, Belgium, the plant will supply ready-to-install batteries for Volvo Trucks’ full electric heavy-duty trucks. This investment shows our strong commitment to electrifying truck transportation. By 2030, at least 50 percent of all trucks we sell globally will be... Read more →

After well more than one million-miles (1.6 million kilometers) of testing in daily customer operations, Daimler Truck and its US Freightliner brand recently unveiled the all-electric eCascadia that will enter series production in 2022. Built on the best-selling heavy-duty truck platform in North America, the new battery-electric Freightliner eCascadia provides... Read more →

Modine Manufacturing Company, a diversified global leader in thermal management technology and solutions, announced the general availability of its suite of EVantage Thermal Management Systems for commercial EV chassis. Leveraging more than 100 years of thermal expertise, Modine, which put radiator systems in the Model T, produces complete EV thermal... Read more →

At the recent ACT Expo in Long Beach, California, Cummins debuted its 15-liter hydrogen engine. This engine is built on Cummins’ new fuel-agnostic platform, where below the head gasket each fuel type’s engine has largely similar components, and above the head gasket, each has different components for different fuel types.... Read more →

Last week, US Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-Calif.-44), Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Congressman Donald McEachin (D-Va.-04), and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.-07) led 61 of their colleagues in both the US Senate and House of Representatives in sending a letter urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to... Read more →

EMT, the public bus operator in the City of Madrid, has ordered 60 Urbino 12 electric buses from Solaris, featuring high energy batteries and pantograph charging which will ensure high operability in all kinds of conditions. The contract value is more than €30 million. EMT Madrid intends to turn 25%... Read more →

California’s Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP), launched in 2009, accelerates commercialization of zero-emission and near-zero-emission technologies by providing point-of-sale vouchers to make advanced vehicles more affordable. Of the 730 zero-emission trucks on the road in California as of January 2022, more than 60% are directly... Read more →

UK Transport Minister Trudy Harrison announced more than £200 million (US$244 million) of government funding will be injected into an extensive zero-emission road freight demonstrator program. The 3-year comparative programme will begin later this year to help decarbonize the UK’s freight industry with initial competitions for battery-electric and hydrogen-fuel-cell technology... Read more →

Volvo Trucks and Deutsche Post DHL Group have signed a cooperation agreement to accelerate the shift to zero-exhaust-emission vehicles. DHL intends to intensify its transition to heavy electric trucks by deploying a total of 44 new electric Volvo trucks on routes in Europe. The intended order includes 40 electric trucks... Read more →

NFI Industries—a leading third-party supply chain solutions provider—is increasing its investment in electromobility solutions with its latest order of 60 Volvo VNR Electric trucks. The battery-electric freight trucks will be deployed in NFI’s Ontario, California fleet throughout 2022 and 2023, in support of its goal of operating the first 100%... Read more →

Airgas, an Air Liquide company, has signed an agreement with Hyzon Motors, a global supplier of zero-emissions hydrogen fuel-cell-powered commercial vehicles, to pilot two heavy duty hydrogen fuel cell trucks, including one 100 kW fuel cell truck and the first Hyzon 200 kW hydrogen fuel cell truck to be tested... Read more →

Cummins and Daimler Truck North America (DTNA), the largest heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America, are collaborating to upfit and validate Freightliner Class 8 Cascadia trucks with a Cummins hydrogen fuel cell powertrain for use in North America. Freightliner will leverage Cummins’ fourth-generation fuel cell powertrain, which provides improved power... Read more →

Aurora Innovation Covenant Logistics Group are collaborating to explore ways t#o optimize Covenant’s long-haul operations with Aurora’s autonomous trucking product. The two companies will explore the integration and deployment of Aurora Horizon within Covenant’s operations. Part of Covenant’s diversified services is long-haul trucking, making the benefits of autonomous technology in... Read more →

Volvo Trucks North America customer, Quality Custom Distribution (QCD)—a Golden State Foods (GSF) company—is increasing its commitment to zero-tailpipe emission freight transport with its latest order of 30 Volvo VNR Electrics. In early 2023, the battery-electric Class 8 trucks will be deployed in QCD’s Southern California fleet operations delivering products... Read more →

Hyundai Motor Company plans to ramp up the US commercial vehicle market entry with XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks. At the 2022 Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo, Hyundai Motor will share the progress of the NorCAL ZERO Project. Through the project, also known as Zero-Emission Regional Truck Operations with Fuel Cell... Read more →

Fontaine Modification is expanding its electrification integration services to include refrigerated trailers through a strategic alliance with electric transport refrigeration unit (eTRU) innovator eNow, Inc. Fontaine will offer application engineering, integration, and installation of eNow’s proprietary renewable Rayfrigeration eTRU technology on refrigerated trailers from all manufacturers. The system can be... Read more →

A report by the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE) has found that 50% of Class 8 regional haul tractors are ready for electrification now. The report—Electric Trucks Have Arrived: The Use Case For Heavy-Duty Regional Haul Tractors—is the third of four market segment reports based on findings from... Read more →

Anglo American plc unveiled a prototype of the world’s largest hydrogen-powered mine haul truck designed to operate in everyday mining conditions at its Mogalakwena PGMs (platinum group metals) mine in South Africa. The 2MW hydrogen-battery hybrid truck, generating more power than its diesel predecessor and capable of carrying a 290-tonne... Read more →

Volta Trucks has outlined its strategic roadmap for its entry into the North American market. The plan will see the first Volta Zero vehicles operating on Los Angeles’ streets by the end of next year. The introduction of Volta Trucks’ 100% battery electric commercial vehicles into North America will be... Read more →

Volvo Autonomous Solutions (VAS), a Volvo Group company, will offer a new hub-to-hub autonomous transport solution, designed to serve four main customer segments: shippers; carriers; logistics service providers; and freight brokers. Each solution will be configured to suit the business needs of the specific segments while addressing the growing demand... Read more →

Proterra has selected Eaton’s eMobility business to supply a 4-speed medium-duty electrified vehicle (EV) transmission for the company’s ProDrive drivetrain used in Proterra ZX5 electric transit buses. The medium-duty 4-speed transmission, to be used in city buses in North America, addresses the primary issue related to single-speed drives that have... Read more →

Volvo Trucks has increased the shifting speed of its intelligent and automated I-Shift gearbox by up to 30%. The quicker response provides improved driveability and smoothness to the driving of both diesel and electric heavy-duty trucks. The significant driveability improvement, which has been added to drivelines at all emission levels,... Read more →

Volvo Trucks and Bucher Municipal have now entered into a collaboration to electrify sewer cleaner trucks. By the end of 2023, Bucher Municipal expects to deliver up to 80 fully electric sewer cleaner trucks to cities in Europe. The introduction of more zero emission zones in cities around the world... Read more →

Westport Fuel Systems revealed its H2 HPDI fuel system in a demonstrator truck. Westport’s HPDI fuel system technology (earlier post) enables heavy-duty trucks to operate on bio-methane (renewable natural gas) and natural gas with the same power, torque, efficiency, and performance as diesel engines—with even better results running on hydrogen—all... Read more →

Daimler Buses aims to offer locally CO2-neutral vehicles based on batteries and hydrogen in every segment by 2030. The initial focus will be on the core markets of Europe and Latin America. By 2039, only locally CO2-neutral new vehicles are to be sold in the core market of Europe. In... Read more →

Nikola Corporation announced that an institutional investor has agreed to make a $200-million investment in Nikola through the purchase of Convertible Senior Notes. Funds advised by Antara Capital LP have agreed to purchase $200 million aggregate amount of 8.00% / 11.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026. The Notes will bear... Read more →

ClearFlame Engine Technologies, a startup developing net-zero engine technology (earlier post), announced the publication of an independent study that finds ClearFlame’s technology could help fleet owners and other heavy-duty truck operators lower total costs while meeting sustainability goals sooner than currently available alternatives. The study was conducted by Gladstein, Neandross... Read more →

IVECO, a brand of Iveco Group N.V. and Eni signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to explore potential cooperation on sustainable mobility initiatives in the commercial vehicle sector in Europe and accelerate the decarbonization of transport. IVECO and Eni aim to define an integrated sustainable mobility platform for commercial fleets... Read more →

Nikola Corporation has begun commercial serial truck production of the Nikola Tre BEV (battery-electric vehicle); initial customer shipments have begun. Next year, fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEV) are planned to be added to the manufacturing mix, said Mark Russell, Nikola’s CEO. Phase 1 of the Coolidge, Arizona manufacturing facility provides Nikola... Read more →

Achates Power has released initial in-use NOx measurements from the cleaner, heavy-duty diesel engine it developed in a project funded by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and several partners. Achates Power previously announced the opposed-piston has entered fleet service with WALMART Corporation in a Peterbilt 579 tractor. (Earlier post.)... Read more →

The California Energy Commission (CEC) selected Symbio, Michelin, and Faurecia along with GTI and other industry partners, to develop and demonstrate a hydrogen-fueled, regional-haul Class 8 truck, as major contributors to a state-supported hydrogen mobility project. The “Symbio H2 Central Valley Express” project, supported with $2 million from the CEC,... Read more →

Heliox, a global leader in DC charging systems for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, announced a supply agreement with PACCAR Parts to support the rollout of PACCAR’s electric vehicles. Heliox will supply mobile 25kW and 50kW chargers to PACCAR’s dealers and customers who are building their electric truck fleets. Heliox Mobile... Read more →

Hylane GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of DEVK Versicherung, one of Germany’s largest motor insurers, has purchased 18 fuel-cell-electric trucks from Hyzon Motors, with deliveries expected to begin in late 2022. Under Hylane’s sustainable mobility model, fleet owners can deploy Hyzon vehicles in their operations through a rental agreement with... Read more →

Scania is currently working with Cummins to develop an initial 20 fuel-cell-electric trucks that will run on green hydrogen for the HyTrucks project. HyTrucks is a consortium of businesses that has pledged to put 1,000 hydrogen trucks and 25 hydrogen refueling stations on European roads by 2025. The HyTrucks consortium... Read more →

Mack Trucks recently introduced its Range Calculator for Electric Vehicles to help customers simulate real-world collection routes. This information allows customers to plan and build routes for the Mack LR Electric refuse vehicle based on many route-specific variables. The Range Calculator for Electric Vehicles takes into account the battery capacity;... Read more →

Mercedes-Benz Trucks is introducing the third generation of its OM 471 heavy-duty diesel engine this year; the engine will deliver increased fuel efficiency and compliance with the strictest emissions standards such as Euro VIe. The third generation of the OM 471 installed in the Mercedes-Benz Actros and the Mercedes-Benz Arocs... Read more →

Aurora Innovation and Werner Enterprises, a premier transportation and logistics provider, announced a collaboration and commercial pilot to test and deploy safely autonomous trucks on one of the most commercially active and critical stretches of highway in the US. Starting this week, Aurora Driver-powered trucks are hauling loads between Fort... Read more →

Torc Robotics, an independent subsidiary of Daimler Truck, is opening a technology and software development center in Stuttgart, Germany. Torc is a leader in SAE Level 4 self-driving vehicle software for heavy-duty vehicles. Torc Europe GmbH will tap into the available talent pool in one of Germany’s prime automotive regions.... Read more →

Achates Power announced that the 10.6-liter, heavy-duty opposed-piston, three-cylinder diesel engine it developed in a project funded by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and several partners (earlier post) has entered fleet service with WALMART Corporation in a Peterbilt 579 tractor. It is the only diesel engine operating on the... Read more →

Volta Trucks revealed its first Volta Trucks Hub that will deliver its Truck-as-a-Service customer-focused operations as the first full-electric Volta Zeros start customer evaluation in mid-2022. This milestone confirms the first location where vehicles will be serviced and maintained in Paris, with confirmation of the London Hub location due shortly.... Read more →

Fleet electrification provider Zeem Solutions has opened its first commercial EV transportation-as-a-service depot in Inglewood, California, near Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The depot, a hub for zero-emission vehicle services, is the largest commercial EV charging installation in the US that supports medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicle fleets. The LA-area... Read more →

Aurora Innovation has launched Aurora Driver Beta 2.0, the second release of its integrated hardware and autonomy system. This release powers Aurora’s next-generation truck fleet and its recently unveiled Toyota Sienna test fleet. It also debuts new capabilities and critical improvements to prepare the Aurora Driver for commercial launch, including:... Read more →

Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) committing Nevada to work collaboratively to advance and accelerate the market for electric medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, including large pickup trucks and vans, delivery trucks, box trucks, school and transit buses, and long-haul delivery trucks (big-rigs). Nevada joins 16 other... Read more →

California’s HVIP (Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project) re-opened to voucher requests at 10:00 a.m. Pacific 30 March 2022. (Earlier post.) In the first 24 hours, a cumulative total of $272 million was requested across standard HVIP funds and the set-asides for drayage trucks, transit, and school... Read more →

Volta Trucks announced the conclusion of a successful Series C funding round of €230 million. Existing New York-based investor, Luxor Capital Group, LP, led this funding round, while Stockholm-based initial seed investor and co-lead, Byggmästare Anders J Ahlström, extended its holding. The latest funding round will fund engineering and business... Read more →

Volvo Trucks in North America has won an order for 110 Volvo VNR Electric trucks from the global logistics company Maersk. The deal adds to a previous order of 16 vehicles of the same model and marks the single largest commercial order to date for Volvo’s electric trucks. The order,... Read more →

A.P. Moller - Maersk (Maersk) will add 300 electric trucks to its North American network, making it the largest heavy-duty electric truck deployment to date. The trucks will be delivered between 2023 - 2025 for use by Maersk’s North American warehousing, distribution and transportation business called Performance Team – A... Read more →

The cost of electrifying commercial fleets can be a significant barrier. Although many millions of dollars in electric vehicle grants are available each year to help with the cost of going electric, the grant programs are often complex, and the application process is time-consuming and very competitive. To help medium-... Read more →