Heavy Duty Electric Truck

[SittingMooseShaman]

...actually, after having done some exhaustive research n2 the modern(present) science dealing w/electrical motors, batteries, controllers, rare-earth magnet metals& etc. I've done a complete 180 on ALL of my thinking towards electrical motive power! The machines'r turning out 2b quite remarkable, reliable, powerful...& they have LOTS of heat(from batteries & controller) for winter condition found in most of the lower 48 states...as far as the USA is concerned...God bless our garage inventors...

[MrTpengineer]

max speed of 40? why not highway speeds of 50? In case you have to keep up with traffic? Not that you'd want to go fast with a big rig, but jeeze.

[dankinusmc1]

A electric vehicle in the class 8 range of vehicles will never be a viable alternative to fossil fuel. In order for a vehicle to be viable in this vehicle class it will need at least 10hr battery life with equal recharge time and weigh no more than what current tractors weigh. I would just like to see cars reach the same fuel efficiency as a class 8(18 wheeler) some day. And remember efficiency is not MPG like a lot of people think.

[cyberlord64]

@dankinusmc1 nanowire batteries could be the answer. designed to hold up to 10 times more charge than lithium ion batteries. a car with a range of 80+ miles could easily get a range of 600+ miles at the same cost of production.

[SittingMooseShaman]

...Idiot Utopians! Should listen to @TheShuntguy!! He is forced to have to deal w/ these, *" Hollywood Blockheads'('Squares') of Post WW2 Quasi-Nazi(force by party legalism) Psycho-Psy-o-cialists' California Cirque du Politicoleil Fi-ass-cos"... Also: IT DOES NOT SNOW, ICE-UP OR BLIZZARD in LA as it DOES in 7/10ths of the U.S. Quantum-up this tech a bit... Pronto! Then maybe, it'll work. Force-of-'decree' is BS.

* quoted title is- cc some rights res."OutstandingMuuse of SittingMoose, Shaman".

[rdans1997]

Yea stop burning oil and start burning more coal for electric. Morons we need hydrogen power and nuclear power to produce it.

[cst20396]

The title should read, HEAVY DUTY COAL POWERED TRUCK. Electricity is mostly produced by coal you GREEN RETARDS !!

[darelldd]

@cst20396 - Mostly from coal? Fail.

I grow the power for me EV on the roof of my garage. Where does your gasoline come from?

[darelldd]

@cst20396 - yeah, except when it isn't. I grow the fuel for my EV on the roof of my garage. Where does your gasoline come from?

[Coffee45]

@cst20396 In Canada, we get 58% of our electricity from hydroelectric powerplants. Regardless, an electric car is still more efficient than a gasoline powered car even if it's running on electricity produced by coal power plants, so it's still a step forward; it also helps take foriegn oil out of the picture. Running an electric car is also far cheaper, and the overall cost tends to be much lower over the lifespan of the vehicle, despite a typically higher initial cost.

[Coffee45]

That said, the cost of the batteries used in EVs is rapidly dropping. (It would probably help if Chevron didn't own some battery patents) Electric cars are also more reliable, and require far, far less maintanence. They also allow allow for more freedom in terms of interior and exterior design, without the need for transmissions, large engines, driveshafts, etc. New ones are also starting to outperform internal combustion engine cars.

[Coffee45]

For example, see the Tesla Model S, which is a large heavy sedan that can seat up to seven passengers, that can accelerate from 0-60 in 5.6 seconds (The standard, non sport model), gets a 300 mile range, can charge in 30 minutes with a quick charge station, and has twice as much storage space, and better safety ratings than almost every other sedan. On another note, anyone who supports EVs for environmental issues is obviously not going to support coal power plants.

[TheShuntguy]

Piece of junk!! The POLA is returning the 14 they purchased to be reworked into a hybrid and cancelled the last 10!! It only gets 3 hours before it has to be recharged for 4 hours! Junk! Junk! I have driven the product and it does not work!

[hondacivic1992]

Electric trucks should have better performance than diesel. Electric motors have more torque.

[staydput]

It's a mistake. Just use CNG. Where do you think the juice comes from? Four corners coal power, that's where.

[angelvetto19]

great 60 miles per charge battery, don´t need preheat, no produce polution, interesting product

[SteelFisher]

you guys are missing the point, the speed trade off is acceptable for it's heavy haul capabilities and range of 60 miles is sufficient for intercity travel, especially densely populated areas like NE NOAM let alon all the other more densely populated areas, no it's not being a transportation like you've seen all your lives, we're transitioning to a different state of energy and infrastructure whether you like it or not. That is a predictible fact of economics, and a response to climate change.

[truckman63]

my dad has a Western Star 9400 and he gets more than 40 MPH and 60 miles

[lol123321123321]

LMAO! 60 miles thats nothing

[johnson1095]

I mean 40 MPH? COME ON MAN! i KNOW you can do better then that.

[johnson1095]

isn't there a way to bump up the speed?

[wilatemodel]

....junk.....

[LOLDISNEYLAND]

An electric has the torque to efficiently pull massive loads without gearing. Excellent idea. The cargo company can install it's whole roof on its warehouse with solar panels to offset external power usage from the grid.

[chechnya]

Propane would make much more sense. Less pollution, domestic supply, similar cost of a diesel model and being able to convert diesel to CNG/propane. I'm not saying battery powered terminal trucks are not good, but the battery technology is not there yet for mass use.

[surreal5335]

@chechnya

I agree with all except for battery technology. Lithium ion is a tremendous improvement over the old lead acid type. One of reasons EVs did poorly in the late 90s was the battery technology available then. With these new batteries, EVs are much lighter and can hold a lot bigger charge on the same size battery.

[LOLDISNEYLAND]

@chechnya Propane you would need larger tanks on the truck. Propane doesn't have a high energy release and hence would be weaker than diesel. Less torque means that you would need more gearing on the truck and a slower takeoff.

[csmgj]

That truck is almost as long as a conventional road tractor. Might be a pain in a tight area. Might not be an issue at the port of LA, but it can be at other facilities. Might as well put a sleeper on it.

[eatpogs]

I couldn't help but think while watching this...there wouldn't be so many damned cargo containers to move around, and less energy used to get things places if we just made it all here to begin with. But major kudos on the electric truck, though I feel a diesel electric setup like a modern locomotive engine might be the way to go. I don't see batteries being economical, and fossil fuel burning power plants will always exist burning fuel anyways.

[amcabbott]

power plants would create as much pollutants in the 6-8 hours to charge that thing as a standard diesel would burn. full electric is just not the answer. bio diesel/electric hybrid,similar to a locomotive would be more "green"

[fischerskidude]

depends on the power source, if america modernizes power grid (more green energy like nuclear) they would be far greener

[surreal5335]

@amcabbott

bio diesel maybe more green (ignoring the transportation of new parts and fuel for bio diesel), but it suffers from the same problem hydrogen does, availability of fuel. Very few places produce it. Electricity is everywhere

saying the plant would create as pollutants as a diesel truck to charge the truck I am sure is pure speculation on your part. Green power sources have been around for a long time and there are no pollutants transporting electrical energy.

[LOLDISNEYLAND]

@surreal5335 Besides, why use loads of electricity to convert something to hydrogen gas and then use electricity to compress it into a tank and then use the hydrogen's stored energy for propulsion in a hydrogen powered vehicle when you can just directly plug the electrical supply into a battery of an electric powered vehicle? The only notable losses you would get is heat from quick charging. Using hydrogen electric is not efficient and very dangerous compared to battery electric..

[surreal5335]

@LOLDISNEYLAND Ya, I havnt really looked into the trade off between energy needs to create hydrogen and how much hydrogen it creates from it. Seems like a silly process and more complicated than its worth. Maybe hydrogen should be reserved for power plants. Not sure if thats effective either, but it might be. Its just such a clean and abundantly cheap source, seems like we should figure out an efficient way to make use of it.

[FireFighterrock24]

id miss the black smoke and jake brake

[Mr253raymond]

good for ports, rail heads, and yard jockys, not o.t.r. transport.

[surreal5335]

@Mr253raymond

Main problem with on the road is refueling quickly and keep going, Hybrid would be best for this purpose. Or a truck that runs on electric but recharges its battery via a small diesel engine. Also putting solar panels on the tops of trailors would allow the truck to have to haul less batteries and still maintain a long driving range.

[Trommylee]

i like this one. and the application is perfect for places like shipyards and such. it would be so EASY for automakers to include this technology in their product lines. we know the technology exists for all kinds of electric transport. most, if not all, of rail transport is electric.

[Mtiger9388]

There is already a prototype truck being tested in Ohio that can travel over 250 miles on a single charge with a full 80,000lb load at highway speeds.

[heatherrose2006]

I wonder how it does in the hills. 250 miles is a good start but I imagine it is outrageously heavy,which would limit payload. Most all shippers require that any truck be able to carry a minimum amount of net weight, at least 44,000lb.

[surreal5335]

@heatherrose2006

Thanks to lithium ion batteries, the weight needed for electric vehicles have been greatly greatly reduced. Lead acid batteries (the standard for gas engine cars right now) are extremely heavy and used to be the way to power EVs, not anymore. Lithium ion is a massive improvement. Sure conversion kits use them, but major companies wont touch them. AC does actually a lot better on hills, than DC motors(another common use in conversion kits).

[lucianocowboylfd]

good alternative...

congratulations...

[Jacko87able]

where i but battery lol

[3089280288]

Some natural gas powered extender would help.  Otherwise it's just a yard truck with tandems.

[nosupecualponerme]

lol.. all it is i a big fork lift dress as a truck

[pasham123]

batteries?

[irocx29]

well that good ! but wear are the ELEC CARS ? IF YOU can get a Big Rig to Tranport Cantaner you know you can get CARS TO EZ !!! and They can go 75 to 90 Miles HR & Battery Will Last longer so Come ON!! I will Buy it NOW!! I Drive Trucks all My LIFE . So U Make it happin OK? Thank you!

[joshthetrucker]

HATE IT!!!! I want big 16 litre diesel.

[nfrankie0714]

Of course you hate it, because you are a MORON!!!

[joshthetrucker]

Haha moron kool word im gonna start using it! :D

[Dali0Lama]

Hey if I spell the word "cool" with a "k" will that make me kooooooooool?

[dickk135]

you're an asshat fuck you fool

[TOILETPOP]

me too

[Bill0254]

Like it or not, this is the beginning. My hat is off to LA. They are getting in on the early stages of what is going to happen. I have read back and have to say that there are legitimate concerns but they will be overcome. Oil and Coal are too valuable to burn. They are needed for too many other things. After all....Didn't they used to burn wood in boilers 130 years ago??? I am not a tree hugger by any means but we need to stop burning fossil fuel.

[nephil1977]

I agree with Bill0254. Petroleum is the source for almost all of our synthetic materials: medical equipment, medicines, textiles, and a whole slew of other things. Burning petroleum and other hydrocarbons as fuel is like chucking fistfuls of cash on the fire to keep warm. It's short-sighted and stupid.

[JUKIO01]

@nephil1977 the whole world runs on fossil fuels, its sooo stupid! this is 2010! lol

[yourallbrainwashed]

@nephil1977 i couldnt of said it better my self!

[LBunis]

dude wtf, the volt gets 40 miles with battery fully charged, and this MASSIVE THING gets 60????!!?

[ekuwa69]

It's a pure EV not a plug-in hybrid like the volt.

[ratryu]

WTH.  I've never heard of an electric truck this big. Why wasn't this in the news? Freaking crappy news. So who is going to mass produce these things? This could be a new motor company or they could contract Tesla Motors to do it.

[wilatemodel]

gay...

[timberbridge]

gay and immature (wilatemodel )

[heartlessvietboy]

The Electric Truck is Excellent.  Especially for local use.

[Ullbritt]

well remember batteries can still get a lot better... nanotechnology for example is just in its infancy...

[truckdawg43]

It will only be good for local.But then what are you going to do with the waste battery's.What about the coal for power station's.We tried natural gas in trucks,didnt work,fry oil not working,in big diesel's small they are working big not I am a mechanic

[mathiastheok]

From a technological standpoint: Electric motors are much more efficient providing 100% of their torque from 1RPM on up. Trains and the giant mining dump trucks are driven by electric motors (with power from a diesel engine)

From a logistical standpoint, the greatest expense for a trucking company is when their rigs are sitting parked and not working. Introducing electric trucks that have significant downtime for charging is a serious problem. Perhaps a batter exchange system might work...

[symmetry08]

it makes sense! Since electric motors are very flexible. And they are within confined range whenever they required to recharge. But what about long range heavy duty trucks? Are they gonna be a scrap of metals by 2020. By 2020 localization will be in full swing. Localization means compactness with heavy accent on electric trucks, since combustion based trucks won't be viable to drive.

[mog5858]

so if they can't run then why is peterbilt bilding for the real world. ?

[KLsemperFi7]

no no no, what u are speaking of is a hybrid electric truck. trucks can't run all day with huge capacities such as those of the trucks todays. the hybrid allows local trucks like garbage trucks to utilize the electricity with them constantly stopping and going. then when they need to unload, they hit the road and the diesel engine kicks in, so it still techically doesnt work the way u r thinkin.

[308scoutrfl]

more wastefull california tax pesos,oh i mean dollars. appears pointless.just because it doesnt blow smoke doesnt make it more enviornment friendly!

[MossyOak83]

sounds all fine and dandy til you think about how electricity is made......alot of the electricity in the US is made by coal so when the demade for electricity goes up from these new trucks they gotta burn more coal to keep up, so in the end it doesnt help a damn bit. plus 60 miles at 40mph? a diesel truck can run all day long at 65mph.

[cygnusixion]

Mossy, it depends on how you look at it. If you are talking lowering Co2 then it might not make a big difference, if you are talking oil independence then it will help some. I have yet to see a coal company put up a banner that says "Death to America" like our "frends" in certain Middle East countries have!

[MossyOak83]

well if the dumbass tree huggerso of america would let us drill in the mid west or in alaska we wouldnt have to need as much foreign oil.

[cygnusixion]

Mossy I think the primary idea here is to become oil independent and not use any foreign oil. Don't forget all electricity in this country is not made with coal. I am not against drilling for more domestic oil but if someone wants to use a power source other than oil to move goods than I welcome it. Every little bit helps.

[trylonperisphere]

So T. Boone Pickens is right? 18 wheelers can't run on electric power?

[Rickdeckard2020]

Great development

Note that the TGV highspeed trains are much faster than trucks and carry much more mass, they require direct power as opposed to batteries but its just to show that its not because its electric that it has to be slow so there is room for further improvement.

Battery packs could indeed be replacable as was mentioned

having power lines like trolley-bus on a main transit route might also be an avenue to consider, it could recharge while moving the truck

[ryan8642]

I actually went to meet the President last week. I invested in this deal and I bet you this deal will be very big. BLQN is their symbol but there isn't much volume since they are just getting rolling but they should do $10M-$20M in the next 12 months.  Not bad for a start up. Looks like the Ports are digging this stuff.

If the Ports don't cut emissions they will lose federal funding. They have to go to these trucks and they are as evidence by their first huge order.

[bradhogan123]

piece of shit

[nepoereh]

Well it is good for the oil crises

[jasbcor]

limited speed + limited range = limited application

Maybe if a plug-in hybrid truck that used dimethyl ether as a fuel were developed then most of those limitations could be overcome.

[dogs1905]

How are they going to charge these, they run

24/7 where I come from

[AlRoderick]

I'd guess that they'd swap them off. If they can work at least twice as long as they need to be down to charge, I'd say it's worth it to have 1.5 times as many trucks as you need. Stagger the longshoreman/driver's shifts to coincide with the charge cycle; when a guy comes to work, he takes whatever's ready.

This is a great environment for electric trucks. No hills, so they can get away with a smaller motor, short trips, and you're never far away from the garage and the qualified mechanics.

[dogs1905]

Standing on the dockside, removing the twistlocks, with the tugs (as we know them) spewing out diesel fumes - these would be a godsend. I just dont see that they are a viable option financially or practically speaking as yet. I can see a dock authority may trial a few, more for green credentials than anything else.

[soylentgreenb]

"I'd guess that they'd swap them off. If they can work at least twice as long as they need to be down to charge, I'd say it's worth it to have 1.5 times as many trucks as you need."

I believe it's technically possible to design the battery pack to be swapable in a few minutes using a fork lift.

Some experimental vanadium flow batteries are edging closer to the energy density of lead acid batteries. The reason it's interesting is that you can just replace the electrolyte and you're ready to go.

[pgtv69]

those should be mass produced for the world especially china to help reduce polution.

[cygnusixion]

SWEET!

[parklandmarket]

show us the motor!!!!!!!!!!!