This
article was published in the April 2023 edition of NTEA News.
Attendees
had the opportunity to drive or ride in commercial vehicles with the latest
advanced fuels and technologies, sustainability offerings and propulsion
systems during the WTW23 Ride & Drive, March 8–9. Featured vehicles
incorporated advancements that promote reduction of fuel use, greenhouse gases
or particulate matter.
Featured
companies and vehicles
Allison
Transmission
Allison
Transmission sponsored the 2023 Work Truck Week Ride & Drive. In addition
to an Allison 9-speed fully automatic transmission vehicle, the Allison
Experience Show Trailer was open for event attendees to further experience the
Power of Allison. Attendees discovered how Allison fully automatic
transmissions can make a difference for fleets and how new eGen Power® e-Axles
are bringing electrification to the commercial vehicle industry with an
immersive interactive experience.
ASA/Voyager
Camera Systems
Voyager
featured the next generation of commercial vehicle safety with an
all-encompassing technological ecosystem that redefines what it means to be
safe on the road. Voyager AIO allows various safety solutions to work
autonomously using a proprietary CAN Bus communication protocol. It’s built for
adaptability, making it the smart choice for an ever-evolving fleet and its
drivers. Invest only in the features you need without allocating resources to
those you don’t. Voyager AIO is a scalable technology that can be designed
specifically to fit the needs of any fleet of any size.
Blue
Arc | A Shyft Group Brand
Blue
Arc featured its all-electric delivery vehicle, a 100% battery-powered Class 3
electric commercial vehicle for high-frequency, last-mile delivery fleets. A
spacious cargo area includes 635–800 cubic feet of storage and offers a choice
of vocational packages designed for functionality. The lightweight aluminum and
composite body offer higher durability against scratches and dents. With a
cargo area ranging from 14–18 feet in length and a payload capacity of up to
5,000 pounds, Shyft customers can maximize productivity and minimize cost of
ownership, including fuel and maintenance costs. Class 4 and 5 vehicles are
also part of the Blue Arc EV portfolio.
BrightDrop
The
all-new Zevo 600, featured by BrightDrop, is made with lightweight materials
and purpose-built to streamline delivery of goods and services that generate
long-term operating efficiencies. And an available GVWR under 10,000 pounds
limits the need for additional licensing to operate.
Freightliner
Custom Chassis
Freightliner
Custom Chassis showcased its all-electric MT50e Class 5–6 walk-in van chassis,
which features advanced EV technology to meet last-mile delivery demands by
generating incredible power and range — with zero emissions. A low-maintenance
design backed by the industry’s best warranty coverage and a national support
network make MT50e the answer for a practical, all-electric alternative to
gas-powered delivery fleet vehicles. Powered by an exclusive battery system
from Proterra, MT50e features a GVWR of up to 23,000 pounds, a range of
approximately 170 miles or more on a single charge, and a streamlined,
integrated design with no reduction in cargo capacity.
GreenPower
Motor Company
GreenPower
Motor Company, which specializes in medium- and heavy-duty commercial electric
delivery trucks and mobility vehicles, featured its EV Star Cargo is a Class 4
vehicle with a GVWR of 14,330 pounds, 170-inch wheelbase and supreme carrying
capacity of 6,000+ pounds, and up to 566 cubic feet. Products achieve a base
range of 150 miles with a battery capacity of 118 kWh. The EV Star full-line
also offers a box truck, cab chassis and cutaway. The company designs
purpose-built electric vehicles for vocational uses, last-mile delivery and
transportation of people.
International
Truck
Built
on the same proven foundation as the diesel International® MV™ Series, the
International eMV™ Series has everything needed to get the job done and more,
without the emissions. Featured in the WTW23 Ride & Drive, the eMV607 Rugby
Contractor dump is a 33,000-pound GVWR vehicle, powered by a 210 kWh main
battery system which has a 12-volt battery enabling the hydraulics to lift the
dump. It also has the horsepower and torque for diesel-like performance, an
interior that offers a quieter, more comfortable ride, a state-of-the-art
digital display of information and less maintenance costs compared to an
internal combustion engine.
Isuzu
Commercial Truck of America
New
for model year 2024, Isuzu showcased the new Class 5 gas-powered NQR (17,950
pounds GVWR) and NRR (19,500 pounds GVWR). Both will be available in a standard
(three-passenger) and crew cab (seven-passenger) configuration. The standard
cab features three wheelbases (132.5, 150, and 176 inches) to accommodate body
lengths from 14–20 feet. The crew cab is available in two wheelbases (150 and
176 inches) to accommodate body lengths from 12–16 feet. The 6.6-liter V8
produces 350 horsepower and 425 pound-foot of torque. An automatic 6-speed
Allison 1000-series transmission transfers that power to the pavement — quickly
and efficiently.
Kenworth
Truck Company
Kenworth
invited WTW23 attendees to drive the T280, a Class 6 truck from its all-new
medium-duty lineup — designed to have best-in-class quality, ergonomics,
ingress/egress, maneuverability, visibility, bumper to back of cab and
operational flexibility. The T280 offers a fresh look and feel that includes
updated styling, new interior, 7-inch HD digital display, smart wheel, ADAS
technology, automatic climate control and many other features and amenities.
Lightning
eMotors
The
Lightning ZEV3 Transit cargo van featured at WTW23 is equipped with an electric
drivetrain that delivers the best efficiency for its weight class, while
providing a quiet, smooth and familiar driving experience. Operated by major
parcel carriers, hospital systems and others across North America, the cargo
van is reliable and efficient. Available in battery-electric versions offering
140-mile and 200-mile ranges, it provides practical, reliable service while
producing zero emissions on the road. Level 2 AC charging and DC Fast Charge
are supported.
Lion
Electric
Lion
Electric featured the Lion6, an all-electric Class 6 urban truck, built in
North America from the ground up with a custom-built chassis and cabin designed
specifically for an all-electric heavy-duty vehicle. The Lion6 has optimized
driving characteristics and component layout with no compromises from
retrofitting, with just over 200 miles of range on a single charge and
proprietary battery management for optimal performance in all weather
conditions. Lion Electric is a North American leader in the zero-emission
heavy-duty vehicle industry, having delivered over 800 all-electric heavy-duty
vehicles with over 10 million miles driven since 2016. The company works
directly with fleet operators every step of the way in their journey to
electrification, including charging infrastructure design and installation,
energy management, service and training and grant opportunities
Peterbilt
Motors Company
Peterbilt
Motors Company featured its Model 220EV Zero Emissions Vehicle, which provides
a clean, efficient operation and lower overall maintenance. Designed for driver
comfort and productivity, the Model 220EV features enhanced visibility,
superior maneuverability, a spacious interior and ease of serviceability for
maximum uptime. It’s ideal for short-route pickup and delivery applications.
SEA
Electric
SEA
Electric featured a Class 5 model powered by the proven SEA-Drive® 120a
power-system, which is specified for truck platforms with a GVWR of
16,001–19,500 pounds. Featuring a 1,106 pound-foot electric motor partnered
with a 138-kWh battery pack, this Class 5 truck provides market-leading
all-electric performance. The SEA-Drive® power-system offers world-class total
cost of ownership possibilities, with a typical break-even period of less than
four years, without grants or subsidies.
VIA
Motors
VIA
Motors, which offers full-scale OEM producing cost-effective and sustainable
electric work trucks to transform fleets to electric drive, featured its VTRUX
at the WTW23 Ride & Drive. Available in Classes 2–5, VIA’s all-electric
VTRUX work trucks can be tailored to meet fleet needs and fitted with the
desired body style.
Workhorse
The
Workhorse W750, was featured at WTW23, and offers is a perfect balance of
payload and volume as well as accessibility and utility. The blend of cab-style
truck and step-through van makes this the best tool for the widest variety of
applications. Access to the 750 cubic-foot cargo space from the front
step-through or the large roll-up rear door are useful for parcel delivery
applications and trades and materials distribution. And 5,000 pounds of payload
allows you to carry 500 10-pound packages or over 90 sheets of drywall. The
118-kW battery pack provides 150 miles of range. Capable of Level 3 charging
for fast opportunity charges, it can also charge overnight with a Level 2
charger.
ZEVX
ZEVX,
which strives to be a leader in electrification for light- and medium-duty
fleet vehicles (primarily Classes 2–4), featured its proprietary powertrain
(batteries and drive motor). The configuration and rapid conversion turnaround
of existing fleet vehicles will accelerate EV adoption globally and provide
customers the support infrastructure, fleet services and knowledge needed to
transform fleet operations to meet sustainability goals.
Additional
Ride & Drive participants
- Motiv Power Systems
- Powered by Karma
Full
recap and photos at worktruckweek.com/wtw23rideanddrive.