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ETruck Transport is expecting to start producing powertrains by the end 2024 that will turn Class 8 diesel trucks hybrid battery-electric.
Transport Topics reported that the powertrain systems were already available for purchase, and eTruck planned to begin commercial production by the year’s end.
eTruck, based in Omaha, Neb., currently offers a retrofitted Class 6 battery-electric truck. The company has sold 23 powertrains so far.
The Knudsens previously owned Rage Exotic Vehicles – a designer and manufacturer of exotic vehicles. Russ Knudsen, who was president of Knudsen Automotive before that, designed vehicles for television shows and movies such as “Miami Vice”, and for manufacturers like General Motors.
Knudsen told TT that eTruck was a solution that any fleet could adopt.
eTruck Transportation is planning a hybrid semi. (eTruck Transportation)
The diesel engine in the company’s Class 6-truck is replaced by an electric drive system, while the transmission and driveshaft remain. The transmission is fitted with an electric motor, the battery packs are mounted on the outside of frame rails and the control system is installed inside the truck.
Knudsen said that the electric motor and battery pack remain in the retrofitted Class 8 Hybrid truck. However, a small diesel is added. A range extension option is also available, which involves a gasoline generator to recharge the batteries.
“It’s very simple.” This is what will make it very popular,” said Knudsen. He added: “We have no competition and we’re in no competition with anyone else.” Someone who wants a truck will buy a truck. We can offer three new trucks for the price of just one to someone who cannot afford it.
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Rolls-Royce will supply the small, turbocharged twin-turbo diesel engine, while Siemens will provide the components of the charging system. Knudsen stated that eTruck was still in negotiations with the battery suppliers.
He said that the talks with battery suppliers take time. “They aren’t used to taking our volumes.” They don’t take those volumes with their current customers.
ETruck does not have a patent on its product suite. He said that if a component was being copied, it would be from a multi-billion dollar corporation.
Knudsen stated that the powertrains would have a warranty of 500,000 miles, and that the weight would not change in comparison to the pre-owned diesel trucks.
Knudsen explained that customers for eTruck’s powertrain either own the truck or buy a second-hand truck. The economics improve because the prices of used trucks are falling.
According to the latest ACT Research data, the average retail price of a used Class 8 truck dropped 17.3% from $71,205 to $58,869 in April, and 1.9% compared to $59,987 in the previous month.
ETruck has 14 facilities to install the powertrain of the Class 6 product. It expects that larger customers will carry out the work themselves with their own technicians. Knudsen said it was up to the customers as to how they retrofitted the trucks. ETruck will train the technicians, Knudsen said.
Knudsen stated that eTruck chose freightliner trucks as the Class 6 and class 8 options because the market was so crowded. eTruck is expecting to grow quickly because of the ubiquity.
ETruck currently has five employees. However, the company plans to increase that number to 500 within two years. It has a 30,000 square foot facility, which it plans to expand into a 300,000-square-foot facility within two years.