The German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) approved the funding application for the consortium research project HyCET (Hydrogen Combustion Engine Trucks) led by the BMW Group. The other HyCET project partners are DEUTZ AG, DHL Freight GmbH, KEYOU GmbH, TotalEnergies Marketing Deutschland GmbH and Volvo Group. The research... Read more →

Logistics company Hegelmann Group, which operates in Europe, and Mercedes-Benz Trucks signed a Letter of Intent for the order of 50 eActros LongHaul electric trucks (earlier post) at this year’s IAA Transportation in Hannover. The vehicles are to be delivered to the family-owned company from Bruchsal, Germany with the start... Read more →

FPT Industrial, the global powertrain brand of Iveco Group, has entered into an agreement to make a minority investment in Blue Energy Commercial Vehicles Private Ltd, a zero-emission truck technology company headquartered in Pune, India, engaged in the manufacturing of clean energy trucks under the brand Blue Energy Motors. The... Read more →

Beijing Foton Daimler Automotive (BFDA), the joint venture of Daimler Truck Holding AG and Foton Motor, celebrated the first locally produced Mercedes-Benz trucks with an inauguration ceremony at its new state-of-the-art production site in Huairou, Beijing. The new facility covers an area of more than 400,000 square meters and provides... Read more →

The Electrification Coalition (EC) launched the Electric Freight Consortium (EFC), a forum for collaboration between the EC, private-sector partners and industry leaders representing a broad cross-section of the freight transportation sector that will accelerate freight electrification at scale. The EFC will complement its freight policy and pilot work by creating... Read more →

Toyota Motor North America and Kenworth Truck Company said they have proven the capabilities of their jointly designed heavy-duty, Class 8 fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) as a potential zero-emissions replacement of diesel-powered trucks with the completion of their operations in the Zero- and Near-Zero Emissions Freight Facilities (ZANZEFF) “Shore... Read more →

At the IAA Transportation show, QUANTRON is presenting a family of hydrogen and battery-electric trucks. As part of a strategic partnership, QUANTRON has developed an FCEV Heavy Duty Truck together with Ballard Power Systems. The QUANTRON QHM FCEV incorporates the FCmove-XD 120 kW fuel cell newly developed by Ballard and... Read more →

Volvo Trucks is testing fuel cell electric trucks that have an operational range comparable to diesel trucks, up to 1,000 km. A second pilot phase is to follow in a few years’ time and will see customer tests on public roads. When running the pilots, the filling of green hydrogen... Read more →

Steelmaker SSAB has started a partnership in fossil-free steel applications with Oshkosh Corporation, a leading producer of mission-critical vehicles and essential equipment, including heavy-duty truck bodies, fire apparatus, access equipment and other specialty trucks. The first use of this fossil-free steel will be to prototype advanced, environmentally sustainable McNeilus refuse... Read more →

ClearFlame Engine Technologies, a company developing net-zero engine technology (earlier post), has hit a number of key milestones through multiple partnerships with customers, manufacturers, and fuel providers. These achievements highlight the company’s ability to leverage existing infrastructure within the transportation sector, giving it a clear advantage to scale quickly and... Read more →

Loop Energy, a designer and manufacturer of hydrogen fuel cells for commercial mobility, unveiled its new 120 kW fuel cell system at IAA Transportation 2022. Loop Energy said that this new product can achieve fuel-cost parity with diesel by up to eight years earlier than previously possible. The 120 kW... Read more →

Daimler Truck subsidiary Torc Robotics, a developer of self-driving vehicle technology, announced it is working with Schneider toward implementing a pilot program utilizing Torc’s autonomous test fleet. As part of the agreement, Schneider will provide freight loads for Torc’s pilot operations and unique insights on truckload freight that will help... Read more →

Allison Transmission announced the new eGen Power 130S, the latest product to be introduced to the company’s eGen Power family of fully electric axles, this week at IAA Transportation in Hannover, Germany. The new Allison eGen Power 130S was designed specifically to support the heavier 13-ton gross axle weight rating,... Read more →

Nikola Corporation and partner IVECO commercially launched the European Nikola Tre battery-electric vehicle (BEV) heavy-duty truck at IAA Transportation and unveiled the European Nikola Tre fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) beta version. Nikola Tre BEV The European 4x2 Artic version of the Nikola Tre BEV offers range of up to... Read more →

Volvo Trucks unveiled a completely new, fully electric rear axle at the IAA Transport show in Hannover, Germany. The new e-axle integrates the electric motors and the transmission into the rear axle, thereby freeing up space for more batteries. More batteries mean longer range, which creates opportunities for long distance... Read more →

Following the market launch of the eActros 300/400 for heavy-duty distribution in 2021, Mercedes-Benz Trucks is not only consistently pushing ahead with the introduction of further battery electric models for this and the coming years, but also focusing on even more diversity and flexibility in applications for the eActros itself.... Read more →

Following the market launch of the eActros for heavy-duty distribution transport in 2021, Mercedes-Benz Trucks is presenting the eActros LongHaul (earlier post) for the first time at the IAA Transportation 2022 in Hanover. With clear contours and an LED light strip in the front area, the vehicle provides a preview... Read more →

E.ON and Nikola Corporation are forming a joint venture with a goal to decarbonize heavy-duty trucking. This partnership is expected to offer customers an integrated mobility solution to promote the use of hydrogen. Both parties have now signed a term sheet to underpin the collaboration and will be negotiating a... Read more →

Westport Fuel Systems announced its new H2 HPDI fuel system. For the first time in Europe, Westport will display an H2 HPDI fuel system-equipped demonstrator truck at IAA Transportation 2022 in Hanover. H2 HPDI is designed for use in internal combustion engines. The system, when fueled with hydrogen, offers more... Read more →

For the first time since finalizing the acquisition of Meritor last month (earlier post), Cummins will showcase Meritor’s 17Xe ePowertrain assembled with a Cummins battery system during the IAA Transportation tradeshow in Hannover, Germany. The 17Xe is designed for heavy-duty trucks in the 4x2 and 6x2 segment, with capacity to... Read more →

cellcentric, the 50:50 fuel cell joint venture of Daimler Truck AG and Volvo Group AB, and the technology group MAHLE signed a letter of intent to cooperate in the field of fuel cell technology for use in heavy-duty commercial vehicles as well as for other applications with comparable requirements. The... Read more →

Amazon and Rhenus will test the Mercedes-Benz eActros LongHaul electric truck (earlier post) in real-world operations as early as 2023. The two companies have each signed a letter of intent with Mercedes-Benz Trucks. The logistics service provider Rhenus will use the e-truck in many different business areas in order to... Read more →

Volvo Trucks is beginning series production of the electric versions of the company’s most important product range, its heavy-duty trucks: Volvo FH, Volvo FM and Volvo FMX. These trucks can operate at a total weight of 44 tonnes GCW. The three models represent around two-thirds of the company’s sales. With... Read more →

ZF’s Commercial Vehicle Solutions (CVS) division announced a joint development agreement with fuel cell and battery systems supplier, Freudenberg e-Power Systems. The partners will develop clean e-Drive ‘powerpack’ solutions, consisting of a fuel cell and drivetrain system, as well as share components for a variety of applications. The partnership combines... Read more →

Hyundai Motor has secured $3.5 million in 2021 Targeted Airshed Grant (TAG) funding from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to deploy five XCIENT Fuel Cell electric trucks in California. The XCIENT Fuel Cell 6x4 tractor model participating in the demonstration is equipped with a 180 kW fuel cell system... Read more →

Volvo Trucks North America customer 4 Gen Logistics, a fourth generation, family-owned drayage company, has ordered 41 Volvo VNR Electric trucks to haul freight between the Port of Long Beach and Southern California’s Inland Empire—a national logistics and warehousing hub. The enhanced, next generation Volvo VNR Electric model, which began... Read more →

Rio Tinto and Volvo Group have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create a strategic partnership where Rio will supply responsibly sourced low-carbon products and solutions to Volvo Group and the companies will work towards decarbonizing Rio Tinto’s operations through piloting Volvo Group’s sustainable autonomous hauling solutions. The multi-materials... Read more →

ZF’s Commercial Vehicle Solutions (CVS) division presented its latest eMobility technologies ahead of IAA Transportation 2022. These include ZF’s new CeTrax 2 electric central drive— an integrated, modular e-driveline system for heavy-duty commercial vehicles—and an advanced new Electric Power Steering (EPS) system for trucks, coaches and city buses. The EPS... Read more →

Werner Enterprises, a premier transportation and logistics provider, has signed a letter of intent to purchase 500 Cummins’ 15-liter hydrogen internal combustion engines upon availability. (Earlier post.) The two companies announced earlier this year that Werner Enterprises plans to validate and integrate Cummins’ 15-liter natural gas and Cummins’ X15H hydrogen... Read more →

Starting 12 September, at 10 a.m. Pacific, the California Hybrid and Zero Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP) will make $5 million available for voucher requests for zero-emission Class 8 tractors performing drayage operations at the Port of Los Angeles. Funding is made available through the Port’s Clean... Read more →

BHP Group, Caterpillar, and Finning International announced an agreement to replace BHP’s entire haul truck fleet at the Escondida mine—the world’s largest producer of copper concentrates and cathodes located in the Antofagasta Region, northern Chile. This agreement is part of a strategic equipment renewal process developed by Escondida. The new... Read more →

Bosch, a longtime leader in powertrain and propulsion technologies, announced that it will also produce fuel cell stacks in its Anderson, South Carolina, facility as part of a more than $200-million investment expected to create at least 350 new jobs by the start of production in 2026. As part of... Read more →

To reduce natural resource usage and its trucks’ environmental impact, Renault Trucks (part of the Volvo Group) is taking steps to transition its industrial operations to a circular-economy approach. Renault Trucks’ new Used Parts Factory is the logical next step after the used trucks repurposing and remanufacturing operations conducted respectively... Read more →

Allison Transmission announced the availability of hydrogen fuel cell and compressed natural gas (CNG) testing at its Vehicle Electrification + Environmental Test Center (VEET). As part of Allison’s goal to support the development and deployment of alternative fuel vehicles that reduce emissions, the company has completed the installation of two... Read more →

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) recently previewed the Heavy-Duty Inspection and Maintenance Program (HD I/M), which is due to begin phasing in on 1 Jan 2023 (earlier post), at an enforcement truck event held at the Port of Los Angeles. CARB used the event, where more than 1,200 trucks... Read more →

Cummins and Canada-based Buhler Industries, a leading tractor manufacturer under the Versatile brand, signed a letter of intent for plans to integrate the Cummins 15-liter hydrogen engines in Versatile’s equipment to lead the decarbonization of the agriculture market. Cummins M15H Since 1967, Versatile has used Cummins engines exclusively in all... Read more →

Hyliion, a developer of electrified powertrain solutions for Class 8 commercial vehicles (earlier post), has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a new fuel-agnostic generator (KARNO) from GE Additive for its range-extended series-hybrid powertrain. The Hyliion KARNO solution offers a next-generation powertrain option between the CNG/RNG-fueled generator used in... Read more →

Allison Transmission, a leading designer and manufacturer of conventional and electrified vehicle propulsion solutions for tactical wheeled and tracked defense vehicles, and medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, has been awarded a $6.55-million contract by the US Army’s Ground Vehicle Systems Center to design, develop and test an electric hybrid sub-system... Read more →

Spartan Emergency Response, a subsidiary of REV Group and a leading manufacturer of fire apparatus, announced that Toronto Fire Services has ordered two all-electric Vector fire trucks. (Earlier post.) When delivered, Toronto Fire Services will be one of the first fire departments in Canada to have fully electric, North American-style... Read more →

Orange EV has expanded its yard truck rental program to offer the largest electric spotter rental fleet across the United States. These all-electric rentals are now available in 48 states, providing increased uptime and reduced costs. Founded in 2012, Orange EV was the first US-based manufacturer to offer 100% electric... Read more →

The San Joaquin Valley Air District Governing Board unanimously voted to accept $12.9 million in additional California Air Resources Board (CARB) funding to replace heavy-duty trucks through the Valley Air District’s grant program. Reducing emissions from mobile sources is key to the San Joaquin Valley meeting federal ambient air quality... Read more →

A new tool from the California Energy Commission (CEC) provides a snapshot of zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles on the state’s road for the first time. Another displays information about companies with in-state zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) manufacturing operations. According to CEC staff analysis, there were 1,943 medium- and heavy-duty vehicles... Read more →

American Rheinmetall Vehicles, a leading developer of tactical wheeled and tracked combat vehicles and systems has formed a strategic collaboration with GM Defense LLC, to compete in the US Army’s Common Tactical Truck (CTT) program. The CTT program seeks to identify a replacement platform for the Army’s Family of Heavy... Read more →

PACCAR will work with Cummins to offer the new Cummins X15N natural gas engine (earlier post) in Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks. The X15N is the first natural gas engine to be designed specifically for heavy-duty truck applications with up to 500 horsepower output. The engine will include the integration of... Read more →

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is inviting small businesses to participate as Small Entity Representatives (SERs) for a Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) Panel. This Panel will focus on the agency’s development of a rule that proposes to set a new phase of greenhouse gas requirements for heavy-duty engines... Read more →

EnTech Solutions, a clean-energy solutions provider, Peterbilt Motors Company, a division of PACCAR, and Maki Trucking, LLC, a regional transportation firm, are partnering to further the sustainability efforts of the Middleton digester renewable natural gas (RNG) facility by incorporating an electric vehicle (EV) tanker truck to transport the facility’s RNG... Read more →

Starting August 9, 2022, applications will be accepted in California for replacement of eligible Class 8 trucks with zero-emission technology. Approximately $9 million is available on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible applicants throughout California from the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust for Class 8 zero-emission freight and port drayage trucks,... Read more →

Autocar, a leading manufacturer of specialized severe-duty vocational trucks, has built its first two alpha units that feature an all-electric powertrain. The two E-ACX battery-electric cabover refuse trucks are going through a strict validation testing process to ensure the trucks are built to handle the same challenges and requirements as... Read more →

Orange EV has closed a $35-million institutional funding round led by S2G Ventures and CCI, an affiliate of Henry Crown and Company, to support and accelerate the company’s growth. The investment will allow Orange EV to scale its manufacturing to meet tremendous demand increases, deliver class-leading vehicles to new markets,... Read more →

To meet the growing demand for battery electric heavy-duty vehicles and machines, the Volvo Group has initiated the process to establish a large-scale production plant for battery cells in Sweden. An extensive site localization study indicates that the Skaraborg region in Sweden is an ideal location for the plant. The... Read more →