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Electric Truck Maker Thor Rebrands as Xos Trucks Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT / April 25, 2019 The company formerly known as Thor Trucks announced on April 24 that it has rebranded itself as Xos Trucks. The Los Angeles-based OEM was launched two years ago and lays claim to being “the first electric truck company to show its prototype Class 8 truck, the ET-1, could successfully transport up to 80,000 pounds across 100 miles on a single charge.” The company said Xos is short for exosphere -- the outermost section of the planet’s atmosphere -- and is representative of its “investment in developing cutting edge technologies and mobility solutions that exceed anything on the present market.” “We see Xos as the ‘os’ for fleets— the intersection between energy and software,” said Dakota Semler, CEO and co-founder of the company. “That the name is cheeky, playful, and maybe slightly irreverent doesn’t hurt either.” “Electrification encompasses so much more than just hardware, which gives us ample opportunities to expand in directions we weren’t thinking about in the early days of the company,” said Gio Sordoni, COO and co-founder of Xos. “It’s a super exciting time now as the company continues to evolve and grow, so we couldn’t be happier about this change.” Xos Trucks also announced it has signed an exclusive agreement with cash-handling firm Loomis Armored under the terms of which it will deliver two Class 6 electric armored cars as part of an EV pilot program. Under the agreement, Loomis will evaluate the Xos trucks for 90 days before placing an order for 100 armored vehicles to be used primarily in California. Per Xos Trucks, the agreement “underscores Loomis’ commitment to sustainability and Xos’ commitment to helping to electrify fleet vehicles where EV technology can easily integrate into vehicles used for local, predictable routes.” .

Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / April 25, 2019 Allison Transmission has unveiled an electrified e-axle system for medium-and heavy-duty trucks, a fully integrated electric powertrain system designed to fit inside a standard frame along the axles of commercial trucks. The AXE Series features electric motors, a 2-speed gearbox, oil coolers and pumps. The offering also includes power electronics for a complete powertrain solution. Allison officials said it is “the first e-axle in the heavy-duty truck industry to provide this level of power density, size and simplicity,” said David S. Graziosi, Allison Transmission president and CEO. The unveiling came just a day after Allison announced it was acquiring the electric vehicle systems division of AxleTech of Troy, Michigan, and in fact the products were developed by AxleTech. In March, AxleTech talked to reporters about its work focusing on commercial vehicle electrification. The Allison AXE Series has a 1-million-mile design life for medium- and heavy-duty trucks. The system integrates one or two high-speed electric motors and a multi-speed transmission, eliminating the need for additional driveshafts and support structures. A dual-motor axle has a continuous power of 536 hp (400 kilowatts) and peak output power of 738 hp (550 kilowatts). A tandem axle configuration is also available. The system can handle 100% torque in regenerative braking. The complete integration of the AXE Series delivers increased efficiency and continuous power through superior internal cooling. The AXE Series electric powertrain will be integrated in Peterbilt’s Model 579EV electric Class 8 truck for evaluation and testing. As a result, the truck features 1,475 hp (1,100 kilowatts). The AXE Series is available in single and dual motor options to package the entire electric powertrain inside a standard frame that exists in almost every global commercial truck, including refuse trucks, school buses, and drayage and delivery trucks. This allows the e-axle to be a bolt-in solution by design, for efficiency in the installation process. Allison also unveiled a compact electric propulsion solution for low-floor bus applications. It said the ABE Series is the first e-axle advanced ultra-low floor electric bus powertrain system in the market. .

Neil Abt, Fleet Owner, Fleet Owner / April 25, 2019 LONG BEACH, CA. Meritor Inc. will begin delivering an improved electric axle to customers this summer. The third-generation 14Xe all-electric axle will offer smoother shifting and handling, while also offering more power, said T.J. Reed, vice president, front drivetrain and electrification. During a press conference at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo, Meritor also said it will supply all-electric drivetrain systems for 38 terminal tractors for use at the California ports in Long Beach and Oakland. The tractors uses Meritor axles and brakes, which work in tandem with the electric powertrain developed by TransPower. “This is one of the largest contracts ever awarded for battery electric terminal tractors and it further validates Meritor’s position as a leader in electric drivetrains as we work toward the commercialization of battery-electric vehicles,” said Reed. The companies were awarded the $17.1 million contract with SSA Marine through the Zero and Near Zero Emission Freight Facility (ZANZEFF) program created by the California Air Resources Board. Deliveries of the vehicles are scheduled to begin later this year through October 2020. They can haul up to 130,000 pounds of cargo. These announcements come one year after Meritor used the 2018 ACT Expo to launch Blue Horizon, a new technology brand representing the company’s emerging platform of advanced technologies centered on electric drivetrain, efficiency and connectivity systems. Chris Villavarayan, president of global truck, said Meritor has more than 20 ongoing electric programs in every major region of the world. Meritor's products were on display throughout ACT Expo, including on electric-powered and natural gas vehicles manufactured by Peterbilt, Daimler and Kalmar. In addition, Meritor developed an exclusive suspension for the Nikola Two electric Class 8 tractor unveiled last week. It was also shown at ACT. .

Dana launches TM4 Sumo electric powertrain for light-duty vehicles Neil Abt, Fleet Owner / April 25, 2019 LONG BEACH, CA. Dana Inc. has launched its newest electric powertrain for Classes 2-6 vehicles, the TM4 Sumo LD. Steve Slesinski, director of global product planning, made the announcement at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo. There are three versions of the powertrain, which offer up to 250 kilowatts of continuous power. The TM4 Sumo can be configured for heavy-duty vehicles when integrated with Dana Spicer electrified axles. Dana acquired a controlling interesting TM4 from Hydro-Québec last year. Slesinski also announced that Dana is partnering with Nordresa to integrate its Spicer Electrified eS9000r e-Axle on the Isuzu N-Series chassis. The axle is designed as a “drop-in” replacement for existing axles used in medium-duty truck and bus applications. It is designed for a range up to 110 miles and peak power of 226 kW for grade startability of 20%. In another new collaboration, Dana and Motiv Power Systems said they are integrating the eS9000r e-Axle on the Ford F-550 chassis. The vehicle can be used for box trucks, maintenance trucks and shuttle buses. “Dana sees tremendous demand in the commercial vehicle space for full electrification, and the Ford F-550 chassis (pictured above) represents an ideal application for integrating our innovative e-Axle technology,” said Mark Wallace, president of Dana Commercial Vehicle Driveline Technologies.

Trailer-Body Builders / April 25, 2019 Dana showed off its newest direct-drive electric powertrain and revealed new collaborations with Nordresa and Motiv Power Systems during the annual Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in Long Beach CA. The company’s TM4 SUMO LD electric powertrain features a motor-inverter combination designed for Class 2 through Class 6 vehicles, Dana said. The offering extends the TM4 SUMO lineup, which it says is powering more than 12,000 electrified vehicles. Designed primarily for today’s direct-drive architectures, the TM4 SUMO LD also provides a modular solution for future transitions to widespread e-Axle platforms. When integrated with one of Dana’s electrified axle solutions, the TM4 SUMO LD can be configured for light-commercial, minibus and medium-duty truck and bus, as well as heavy-duty Class 8 hybrid vehicles, the company claimed. “The TM4 SUMO direct-drive electric powertrain offering is a globally adopted, road-proven, highly efficient solution utilized in thousands of electrified vehicles, which is a key differentiator setting us apart from other electrodynamic solutions,” said Christophe Dominiak, chief technology officer for Dana. “The SUMO LD series has been engineered into multiple Spicer Electrified products and is able to be adapted to the architecture requirements of our customers, from direct-drive solutions to fully integrated e-Axle designs.” With three available models, the TM4 SUMO LD offers up to 250 kilowatts of continuous power and 1,200 newton meters of torque. Its new winding technology, combined with an internal permanent magnet (IPM) rotor design, yields a 10% decrease in magnets and creates a more lightweight and compact solution to fit smaller vehicle envelopes, Dana said. The SUMO LD is matched with the three-phase CO150 inverter, which already is used in “thousands” of vehicles worldwide. Dana, Nordresa electrify Isuzu chassis Dana said it is partnering with Nordresa to integrate its Spicer Electrified eS9000r e-Axle on the Isuzu N-Series chassis for commercial fleet applications. This new collaboration is in addition to the companies’ existing joint efforts to offer commercially available direct-drive systems, complete with TM4 motors and inverters, on battery electric medium-duty vehicle platforms. The progression to fully integrated e-Axles allows the traditional mechanical driveline system to be replaced with an electric motor integrated directly into the vehicle’s differential housing, improving design flexibility for battery placement and truck body positioning, the company maintained. Nordresa’s proprietary electric powertrain controls will be a key feature of the new chassis. “As electrification continues to expand in the commercial-vehicle segment, Dana is focused on cultivating its product offerings to deliver immediate, tangible benefits to our customers,” said Mark Wallace, president of Dana Commercial Vehicle Driveline Technologies. “Collaborating with a leading integrator like Nordresa further supports our customers with complementary technologies that are ideal solutions for the medium-duty and bus markets.” The Spicer Electrified eS9000r e-Axle consists of an integrated motor, transmission and axle system. It is designed as a “drop-in” replacement for existing axles used in medium-duty truck and bus applications. The e-Axle also incorporates an integrated parking mechanism (park pawl) that eliminates the need for an external solution on vehicles without a transmission, Dana said. Developed jointly, the electric Isuzu N-Series chassis can be used for box trucks, maintenance trucks and more. It is designed for a range up to 110 miles and peak power of 226 kilowatts for grade startability of 20%. “We continue to make progress in the development and integration of electrified drivetrains across a diverse set of applications and customers,” said Sylvain Castonguay, president and CEO of Nordresa. “We are pleased to be partnering with Dana, a leader in electrification, to extend those solutions even further as demand continues to grow.” Dana, Motiv electrify Ford chassis Dana Incorporated also is collaborating with Motiv Power Systems to integrate Dana’s Spicer Electrified eS9000r e-Axle on the Ford F-550 chassis for use in commercial fleet applications. By replacing the traditional mechanical driveline with an electric motor integrated directly into the vehicle’s differential housing, the e-Axle provides greater design flexibility for battery placement and truck body attachment, Dana said. In addition to Dana’s e-Axle technology, the chassis features Motiv’s proprietary electric powertrain controls. “Dana sees tremendous demand in the commercial vehicle space for full electrification, and the Ford F-550 chassis represents an ideal application for integrating our innovative e-Axle technology,” Wallace said. “Collaborating with pioneers like Motiv to offer integrated e-solutions enables commercial fleet owners to capitalize on the benefits of electrified vehicles.” Added Matt O’Leary, CEO of Motiv: “We’re proud of our role in this initial Ford F-550 application. It represents a combination of two complementary technologies in bringing electrification to commercial fleets. “We share a common vision with Dana of expanding the market profile of battery electric vehicles in commercial transportation and welcome the opportunity to collaborate with them to advance this goal.” .

Tesla Semi Electric Truck Production Pushed to 2020 Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / April 26. 2019 During Tesla’s first quarter 2019 earnings call, the company indicated that production of the Tesla Semi would begin in 2020, later than the initial projection of 2019. During the call, Jerome Guillen, president of automotive and head of the Tesla Semi program, indicated that production would begin next year, the first confirmation from the OEM that it had been pushed back. Guillen also confirmed that the Tesla Semi’s powertrains would be built at the company’s Gigafactory in Nevada. Tesla announced the Semi in 2017, and offered $20,000 pre-orders for the battery-electric trucks. The base model, which features a 300-mile range will list for $150,000, while the extended range model, with a 500-mile range, will list for $180,000. Companies that were among the first high-profile fleets to announce orders for the Tesla Semi.include FedEx, PepsiCo, Albertsons, Anheuser-Busch, J.B. Hunt, and Wal-Mart.

Ford Q1 net profit falls 34% on one-time charges; shares rise Michael Martinez, Automotive News / April 25, 2019 DETROIT — Ford Motor Co.'s first-quarter net income fell 34 percent to $1.15 billion, on one-time charges, but the company said it was on track to generating better results in 2019 than it did last year as CEO Jim Hackett’s global reorganization starts to take root. Ford’s earnings before interest and taxes in the latest quarter rose 12 percent to $2.45 billion, including a 14 percent gain in North America behind strong sales of trucks and SUVs, in what Hackett has dubbed “a year of action.” Following the release of the company's first-quarter financial results, Ford shares surged above $10 for the first time since August. The shares rose 11 percent to close at $10.41 on Friday. “It was a good start, but we still have three quarters of the year to go,” Ford CFO Bob Shanks told reporters Thursday. “We’re happy, but our enthusiasm is well under control.” The company's North American profit of $2.2 billion reflected a margin of 8.7 percent, 0.9 percentage points higher than in the first quarter of 2018. The results were driven by a stronger mix of more profitable vehicles, including a strong quarter for F series and the North American launch of the Ranger midsize pickup in January. Ford last year announced it was cutting sedans from its lineup. While analysts and investors remain skeptical, Hackett on Thursday said the company “doesn’t intend to lose any of these customers long term” and that the decision “was absolutely the right call.” Shanks said the move, by the end of the year, would contribute positively to the tune of “hundreds of millions of dollars.” Elsewhere in the world, results improved in China, the Middle East and Africa but declined in Europe, South America and the rest of Asia Pacific. Globally, revenue fell 4 percent to $40.3 billion and profit margins declined 1.3 percentage points to 2.8 percent. Ford attributed a majority of its $600 million decline in net income to one-time charges related to its global redesign, including exiting the heavy-truck market in South America and restructuring its operations in Europe. It took a $24 million hit from ongoing layoffs of salaried employees in North America, a process Shanks said is “coming toward its end.” Additional charges in the quarter included an $11 million hit for the closing of its Chariot ride-sharing program and a $67 million charge for ending U.S. production of the Focus. Of the $11 billion in total charges Ford expects to book related to its global restructuring, Shanks said $3 billion to $3.5 billion will occur this year, including the nearly $500 million this quarter. Ford Credit earned an $801 million profit, up 25 percent from a year ago and its best quarterly result since 2010. Shanks said the first quarter will be the strongest of the year as Ford prepares for a slew of new model changeovers, including redesigns of the Escape and Explorer crossovers, later in the year. “It’s the beginning of the game, not game over,” Shanks said. “We feel very encouraged by the start to the year.”

Ford facing U.S. criminal probe into emissions testing Bloomberg – Reuters / April 26, 2019 The Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into Ford’s emissions certification process, the automaker disclosed two months after admitting to an issue with its testing. Ford, the latest automaker to come under scrutiny for adherence to U.S. emissions standards, is fully cooperating with all government agencies, the automaker said Friday in a regulatory filing. The company said that because the matter is still at a preliminary stage, it can’t predict the outcome or assure investors it won’t have a material impact on the company. Ford potentially faces significant financial penalties as regulators have taken a tough line on emissions issues. Ford revealed in February that it had adopted a flawed approach to using road-load specifications to simulate how aerodynamic drag and tire friction can affect fuel economy outside testing labs. It has hired an outside outside law firm, Sidley Austin, and experts to help conduct an investigation that could stretch into the summer. When Ford disclosed the issue in February, the automaker said “there’s been no determination that this affects Ford’s fuel economy labels or emissions certifications.” The Justice Department notified the company of its investigation this month, Kim Pittel, Ford's group vice president of sustainability, environment and safety engineering, said in a statement. The Justice Department refused to comment on the Ford probe. The investigation doesn’t involve the use of so-called “defeat devices” that VW was found to be using to game emissions testing, Pittel said. Ford since last fall has been investigating concerns raised by employees that incorrect calculations were used to translate test results into the mileage and emissions data submitted to regulators. Ford said in February it was evaluating changes to the process it uses to develop fuel economy and emissions figures, “including engineering, technical and governance components.” Ford has held meetings with the California Air Resources Board and EPA officials and turned over documents related to its review. Ford has also submitted a testing plan that has been approved by regulators. The first vehicle Ford is evaluating is the 2019 Ranger pickup truck. The EPA also refused to comment on the Ford investigation but Administrator Andrew Wheeler said earlier this month the agency had other enforcement actions against other automakers "in the works." "When people are not playing by the rules and they are creating more pollution ... we will catch them, we will hold them accountable," Wheeler said. Ford has been embarrassed in the past by errors with fuel economy claims. In 2013, the company cut by seven miles per gallon the claimed fuel economy on the C-Max hybrid following consumer complaints that real-world mileage did not match the claimed fuel economy. In 2014, Ford lowered fuel economy ratings for six other models and offered compensation to customers. The latest probe makes Ford at least the fourth major automaker to fall under ederal investigation over emissions in the span of a few years. Volkswagen Group paid a $4.3 billion penalty in 2017 for misleading regulators and customers about diesel engines emissions. In January, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles agreed to an $800 million civil settlement to resolve claims by the Justice Department and the state of California that it used illegal software to produce false results on diesel-emissions tests. A Justice Department criminal investigation is pending. U.S. regulators are also investigating Daimler for alleged excess emissions in Mercedes-Benz diesel vehicles, but the Justice Department and EPA have declined to comment on the status of the probe. Daimler also has declined to comment, but has previously acknowledged it faces investigations in Germany and the United States. Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp. in 2014 were hit with a $100 million civil penalty after selling roughly 1.2 million vehicles with inflated fuel economy ratings. The inaccurate ratings stemmed from faulty procedures used by the companies to calculate road-load forces.

A new Autocar conventional with a “Driver 2” cab supplied by, or produced in conjunction with T-Line?

No. Nor China. ZF took most of Eaton’s global market share.

What’s Behind the Grille of the New Nikola Hydrogen-Electric Truck Jim Park, Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / April 24, 2019 There's nothing ordinary about the Nikola Two, the first Class 8 tractor unveiled by Nikola Motors on April 16. It has 10 tires and disc brakes, but that's where the similarities to existing Class 8 tractors end. Nikola Motor Company CEO Trevor Milton is quick to point out that this truck is not a diesel conversion, but something brand new from the ground up. "We had to build this truck differently, not just to be different, but because we found we couldn't make it work within the framework of existing diesel platforms," he said. "This truck will be competing with diesels and it will have to be better than diesels, so we knew we would have to completely redesign it." The styling cues for the exterior came from Japanese bullet trains, said Steve Jennes, Nikola’s Chief Designer. "When I first started drawing this truck, I wanted a clean, simple profile with an impactful stance," he said. "The early drawings resembled the trains I had ridden on in Europe and Asia when I was younger, where you could travel at 180 mph in complete silence and safety." While Nikola did not provide any numbers or context to back up its claims of aerodynamic superiority, the truck certainly looks slippery enough. Even though the motive power is supplied by zero-emissions hydrogen, energy conservation remains an important consideration, Milton noted. Power comes from hydrogen fuel-cell stacks developed by Nikola in partnership with Bosch that are designed to deliver extended vehicle range. The potential energy stored in the truck's 80 kilograms (176 pounds) of hydrogen yields 3 mega-watt/hours of electricity. Milton said 30,000 pounds of lithium batteries would be required to store the same amount of energy. "By comparison, the current version of the Tesla Semi has 1.2 mW/hr of onboard energy storage," Milton said. "That’s one-third the energy storage we offer, and that's a big weakness when it comes to the distance that truck can travel." Bosch and Nikola also worked in tandem to develop the first true dual-motor commercial-vehicle eAxle for a long-haul truck. The eAxle features Bosch rotors and stators. "We built this truck with 1,000 horsepower per drive axle, that means with a 6x4 configuration it could have up to 2,000 horsepower," Milton said. "We expect about 90% of the fleets in America will order this with just one drive axle. You'll save somewhere around 2,000 pounds by eliminating one set of drive motors and the gearing." Each of the 450 kW motors on the axle(s) produce up to 500 hp and 2,000 lb-ft of torque. "This truck had to be both zero emissions and high performance," said Milton. "If you're just zero emissions but less performance, like the other fuel-cell trucks, nobody will buy them unless they are running out of a port or some other limited area. And on top of that, if the cost of ownership is too high, again, nobody will buy them. This is the only semi that can beat a diesel in every category." Advanced Electronics But the Nikola truck is more than just a fuel cell vehicle; it’s a rolling super computer. One of the key elements of Nikola’s advanced system is the Bosch Vehicle Control Unit, which provides higher computing power for advanced functions while reducing the number of standalone units. "The entire infotainment system is a HTML 5 super computer," Milton said. "That's the standard language for computer programmers around the world, so using it let's us build our own chips. And HTML 5 is very secure. Every component is linked on the data network, all speaking the same language. It's not a bunch of separate systems that somehow still manage to communicate." The VCU will enable future innovations by providing a scalable platform for the highly complex electric/electronic (E/E) architecture needed to support the advanced features of the Nikola truck. According to Bosch, the Nikola family of trucks will be connected with an advanced and secure operating system that provides real-time, over-the-air updates and monitoring. Bosch also provides a camera-based mirror system, co-developed with Mekra Lang, known as the Mirror Cam System. It will replace conventional main and wide-angle mirrors and will provide drivers with a digital side and rear view from the truck cab. Two cameras, fitted left and right in place of traditional mirrors, feed real-time images to high-resolution displays mounted inside the cab. Aside from the aero benefits of dispensing with the large external mirrors, the Mirror Cam system offers enhanced night vision, glare reduction, and several driver assistance features. "This technology is a good fit with what the Nikola teams wants to do with the truck in terms of reducing the drag coefficient of external traditional mirrors and improving safety," said Jason Roycht, vice president of commercial vehicles for Bosch in North America. "Current trucks have multiple mirrors, but with these cameras and software we can stitch images together for enhanced views. We can enhance the image on the screen for increased clarity and we can even add colors to the displays; red for example, to increase the noticeability of possible threat subjects." Fleet operators will be able to digitally manage vehicle keys for the Nikola trucks thanks to the Perfectly Keyless system, also from Bosch. Freight and commercial vehicle rental companies can use a smartphone app to give their drivers access to specific fleet vehicles and to flexibly manage who has access and when. Sensors on the Nikola vehicles will connect with an app on a driver’s smartphone so that when the driver approaches the vehicle, Perfectly Keyless recognizes the smartphone, identifies the unique security key assigned to the driver’s phone, and unlocks the door. As soon as the driver moves away from the truck again, the vehicle is automatically locked securely. Bosch's other significant contribution to the Nikola truck is the Servotwin electrohydraulic steering system. The steering system will enable driver assistance systems that actively support the driver to enhance driving comfort and improve safety. On the Nikola vehicles, the Servotwin will help to enable such features as lane-keeping assistance, side-wind compensation, and traffic jam assist. The system also provides a key building block for the rollout of automated features in the future. Driver Environment When drivers finally get to climb aboard a Nikola truck, they won’t suffer. The demo truck on display at April’s Nikola World event featured a leather and suede interior (they made visitors put on rubber gloves before entering the truck for a tour), rather than the "horrible plastic interiors" they have now, said Jennes. "The idea was to build something so beautiful that drivers will really want to drive it." The truck features independent front suspension, disc brakes, a wrap-around windshield, and doors located behind the seat. A set of steps auto-deploys when the driver approaches the truck and retracts once he or she is on-board. That's keep the DOT guys from hanging off the mirrors during a roadside inspection. The entire dash is electronic, with a 21-inch, 4K display in the middle and a 13-inch display in front of the driver. The truck uses voice-activated controls rather than pushing buttons and reaching for various controls to help maintain a driver's focus on the driving task. And while the truck displayed was the day-cab version, Milton said the Nikola 1 sleeper cab is being developed simultaneously and will go into production at the same time. "It will be identical to the Nikola 2, we just have to extend the back wall," he said. "All the systems and tooling will be exactly the same for both trucks. The sleeper will offer a queen-sized bed, desk, office chairs, and more." .

BYD Refuse Truck Delivered to California City Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / April 19, 2019 BYD (Build Your Dreams) delivered a BYD 8R Class 8 Automated Side Loader (ASL) all-electric collection truck to Waste Resources to serve its customers in the City of Carson, Calif. This vehicle is the first all-electric refuse truck in residential collection operation in Southern California, according to the manufacturer. The heavy-duty truck features BYD’s propriety electric-propulsion system designed for refuse collection. Waste Resources’ new truck features cab, chassis, and propulsion system built by BYD and an ASL body made by Amrep, a Wastequip company. “Waste Resources is a forward-thinking company that is embracing zero-emission technology for the benefit of the communities it serves,” said John Gerra, BYD director of Business Development, Electric Trucks. “And we’re happy with the great work that Amrep does to help provide our customers with state-of-the-art zero-emission electric trucks.” As the waste industry moves to become increasingly sustainable, zero-emission electric trucks are the future of the industry, according to BYD. In addition to the first BYD 8R recently delivered to Waste Resources, the company has placed orders for three additional units, including another 8R Class 8 and two 6R Class 6 Electric Refuse Trucks. .

Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / April 24, 2019 Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America, Inc. unveiled its Fuso FE CNG concept truck on April 24. Powered by compressed natural gas, the truck was developed with alternative fuels system provider Agility Fuel Solutions The OEM said the truck “represents a working collaboration of both companies, potentially providing a more environmentally friendly work truck option for the United States and Canada.” The FE CNG will provide a 15% to 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and more substantial reductions in volatile organic compounds (VOCs), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NOx), according to Mitsubishi Fuso. The CNG system on the concept truck is certified to the California Air Resources Board’s optional low NOx standard. Because CNG engines produce essentially no particulates, the aftertreatment system is a simple three-phase catalyst instead of the complex aftertreatment system found on all newer diesel trucks, stated Mitsubishi Fuso. In addition, the truck “produces no smell or smoke and is actually quieter than a diesel-powered truck, ideal for urban operations.” Agility provides CNG cylinders or systems for more than 60,000 trucks and buses worldwide. On the Fuso FE GAS truck, Agility is providing a complete end-to-end CNG fuel system, including dual side-mounted CNG storage systems with 30 gasoline gallon equivalent (GGE) capacity, an integrated regulator assembly and a fuel fill panel, and a CARB- and EPA-certified low-NOx natural gas fuel system for the GM Powertrain V8 6.0L engine that is standard on all FE GAS trucks. Mitsubishi Fuso added that the FE CNG concept truck is estimated to have a driving range of 190 miles. In addition, the CNG fuel system drives the OEM fuel gauge, providing the driver with a familiar fuel level between empty and full, rather than a pressure value, said the OEM. Also, because the CNG system does not significantly increase the weight of the truck, “overall payload capacity for the FE CNG is not greatly impacted, allowing operators to continue to deliver roughly the same amount of goods compared to other powertrain models.” “Using Agility’s experience in CNG will benefit our customers by enabling a reliable, integrated CNG-powered solution for our existing FUSO FE GAS truck models,” said Jasmin Kluge, project manager for alternative fuels project, Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America, Inc. “The additional benefit is its total cost-of-ownership advantage: lower fuel cost, less maintenance, less emissions and less noise, making this a win-win for truck fleets’ bottom line and environmental stewardship.” “We are excited to work with Fuso to develop a CNG option for the FE GAS platform,” said Brad Garner, Agility’s president – Powertrain Systems. “CNG is an excellent option for return-to-base and urban delivery fleets, with an attractive total cost of ownership.” Mitsubishi Fuso noted that further tests and market studies of the concept truck are under way “to determine the next steps for this product— with a potential CNG aftermarket solution from Agility occurring by 2020.” .

Transport Topics / April 24, 2019 CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Kenworth Truck Co. on April 24 broke ground to officially start construction on a $140 million, 120,000-square-foot paint facility addition to its Class 8 truck assembly plant. Kenworth will construct the facility, expected to open in 2021, adjacent to the current plant. The expansion represents a nearly 25% increase to the current 502,000-square-foot plant, which is located on 120 acres 50 miles south of Columbus. The facility will utilize the latest technologies to increase paint capacity by 50% while enhancing the plant’s product quality and environmental stewardship programs. Advanced technologies integrated into the facility include robotic paint application systems and the latest in emissions-control systems. “Our investment in this outstanding new facility highlights Kenworth’s focus on leveraging technology to continually enhance the quality of the products we provide our customers, said Mike Dozier, Kenworth general manager and Paccar Inc. vice president, “while also reinforcing Kenworth’s commitment to the production of industry-leading Class 8 trucks by the more than 2,000 outstanding employees at our Chillicothe plant.” Complementing the investment in the new Chillicothe paint facility, and scheduled for completion this summer, is the installation of a $33 million robotic cab assembly cell. The cell will occupy 40,000 square feet on the existing production floor and support the continued market share growth of Kenworth’s T680, T880 and W990 models. .

Jon Harris, The Morning Call / April 24, 2019 While Mack’s deliveries rose in the first quarter, its order intake was down big. In the quarter, Mack took in some 3,200 orders, down 67% from the same period one year ago. Mack’s market share in North America continued to drop in the first quarter, hitting 5.5%. Heffner noted that the overall heavy truck market has grown primarily in the long-haul segment, which Mack hopes to grab a larger portion of the long-haul segment as the year progresses on the strength of the Anthem.

Same tranny..........https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/56758-eaton-displays-retarder-equipped-next-generation-endurant-transmission-at-shanghai-auto-show/ On another note, I asked Eaton for years to once more offer a transmission for the global market set up for a retarder installation, but they arrogantly refused. Eaton hasn't offered a retarder-capable global market transmission since the fully synchronized 16-speed RTS(O)-xx316A. I don't know if the US market will see it though. Hard to beat the Voith retarder.

Ford's $500M investment in Rivian to yield new electric vehicle Michael Martinez, Automotive News / April 24, 2019 DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co., in another move to shore up its electrification efforts, on Wednesday said it was investing $500 million in electric vehicle startup Rivian and plans to build a battery EV using Rivian's flexible skateboard platform. The move comes weeks after talks between Rivian and General Motors reportedly broke down. GM reportedly was interested in becoming an equity investor in Rivian, much like Amazon, which invested $700 million in the startup in February. For Ford, the deal secures another ally to manage costs and development in a hyper-competitive space where it has so far lagged behind much of the competition. While rivals including GM and Tesla have introduced battery-powered vehicles, Ford's first long-range battery EV -- a Mustang-inspired crossover -- won't hit showrooms until 2020. It's also planning a battery-powered F-150 pickup. Ford is also in discussions with Volkswagen about sharing an EV platform. Ford CEO Jim Hackett on Wednesday said the Rivian investment "does not interfere" with any potential deal with VW. "This is a specific platform that helps us in an area we weren't considering with others," Hackett told reporters on a conference call. Ford executives declined to say what type of vehicle the company would develop on Rivian's skateboard platform, where it would be built or when it would go on sale. They said it would not be one of the two battery EVs Ford has already announced. Hackett said the Rivian investment was in addition to Ford's $11 billion financial commitment to electrifying its lineup through 2022. "Ford's investment in Rivian is a smart one," Michelle Krebs, executive analyst at Autotrader, said in a statement. "Rivian leverages Ford's leadership, expertise and massive volume in pickup trucks as well as its vast distribution network. The Amazon investment in the Rivian mix may well give Ford an in with the delivery services, possibly with electric cargo vans." Rivian, which has shown concept versions of an electric pickup and SUV, will remain an independent company, and the investment is subject to regulatory approval. Joe Hinrichs, Ford's president of automotive, will join Rivian's seven-member board. Rivian's founder and CEO, RJ Scaringe, said the startup plans a "broad portfolio" of vehicles on its skateboard architecture, some of which might directly compete with Ford's EVs. But he said vehicles it develops with Ford will be distinct, with Rivian focused on higher-priced performance models in the active lifestyle space. "What we do with Ford will be different than that," Scaringe said. Scaringe said Rivian could partner with other companies, although its current focus would be on building the relationships with its existing partners. Hinrichs said the deal allows Ford to save money and speed up the arrival of its upcoming crossover EV, and he left open the possibility that the partnership could broaden beyond one vehicle, saying this was the "first of many pieces of news" he hoped both companies would share.

Nissan Diesel has seen better days.

Owner-Driver / April 12, 2019 The 2019 Western Star Trucks Show n Shine will take place in Penrith in November Penske Commercial Vehicles will be hosting the 2019 Western Star Trucks Show n Shine in the grounds of the Museum of Fire in Penrith, NSW, on Sunday, November 3. The Museum of Fire is well known in truck show circles; it’s also the venue for the annual Penrith Working Truck Show as well as the annual Sydney Classic and Antique Truck Show. This will be the first Western Star Show n Shine event to be held in NSW. Penske says it will be a chance for Western Star owners to polish and display their much-loved trucks. Last year’s event held in Toowoomba saw North Queensland Truck and Machinery Movement’s ‘Phatcat’ 4800 take out truck of the show, with KS Easter’s 200th truck taking home the title in 2017 at the Mt Cotton Training Centre west of Brisbane. Penske says the 2019 event will again feature a host of prizes across several categories. "After speaking with customers and our dealer network, the decision was taken to move the show and shine to Sydney’s west," says Kevin Dennis, managing director of Penske Commercial Vehicles. "Our last two events were very successful with a great turnout of Western Star faithful and their friends and families, and we are sure that this year will be even better! "In addition to our national customers who travelled from far and wide the last two years and will do so again, we are also looking forward to spending the day with our NSW customers who didn’t make the trip north of the border the last few years." Registrations are due to be open soon. For further information about the event, visit www.facebook.com/WesternStarTrucksAustralia .

Diesel News Australia / April 2019 The Australian requirements for a prime mover on Aussie roads are unlike those anywhere else in the world. We are also a relatively small prime mover market in the greater scheme of things, but every truck manufacturer likes to have a photo in their boardroom of their prime mover hauling a road train on a dusty red road in Australia’s outback. It infers ruggedness, durability and strength. They have all had a crack at the market and have succeeded in one way or another. For the Japanese, however, the results have been patchy at best. The domestic Japanese heavy duty market does exist, but the heavy duty rigid is the dominant force at the heavy end of the weight range. There is also not much of a sleeper cabin tradition in Japan, most are fitted with something we would regard as an enhanced day cab. All of the Japanese truck makers have offered a prime mover to the heavy duty market which has ticked some of the boxes in terms of Aussie requirements, but none have hit the mark squarely enough to have an impact. Engines have not had enough power or torque, wheelbases have not been suitable to get maximum benefit in GCM terms. The marriage of the Roadranger gearbox and Japanese engine has not been one made in heaven, functional but not great. Cabins have been ordinary and often cramped. The trucks have been adequate for the task, but were up against the best North America and Europe could offer, and coming a distant third. On the highway the UD Quon does demonstrate its strengths. This is a UD truck, so it sits down well on the road and gives the driver a relatively firm ride. The difference between the older models and this one become clear when manoeuvring. The steering is smooth positive and light, the influence of Swedish engineers in the steering system design. The engine brake is a real engine brake, this is not a butterfly valve changing the engine note, this is a compression brake. At the top of a long descent this driver clicked the automated manual transmission (AMT) over to manual, selected a suitable gear and engaged the engine brake. The ability of the engine brake to hold back a fully loaded semi on a steepish grade was surprising. There are four stages available on the engine brake to give the driver some more control over speed of descent and engine revs. The brake blending system is also in the European mode, touching the foot brake engages the exhaust brake, then the engine brake and then the service brakes, depending on how far the driver pushes the pedal when looking to slow the truck. The Escot AMT shows its European pedigree by disengaging the clutch and allowing the engine to idle when the truck does not need engine power to maintain 100 km/h. This coasting feature is another of the modern fuel saving features coming into the Japanese truck sphere. Hill start assist is also included to make it easier when taking off on a slope. This is one of those truck tests where the expectation of anything out of ordinary is quite low. This looks like the GW we have seen over the years. the familiar UD prime mover shape remains largely unchanged apart from features like the front grille and the headlights. These differences become much more obvious when the old and new are parked side by side. Even climbing into the cab, the basic layout has changed little. Most of the controls, storage and so on, are in a familiar place. It’s when you get out on the road that the impact of the changes made really hit home. The ride is excellent, the steering spot-on, the transmission is virtually faultless. The penny drops, this is a new truck. Then less obvious features like the coasting/rolling feature or the Traffic Eye come into play. The ACC makes life very easy for the driver, as long as it’s used properly. The engine brake also improves the driving experience, and if there were any doubts about the efficacy of this 11 litre engine in this environment, they are soon forgotten when the engine gets stuck in at the foot of a grade. The truck starts to communicate with you, giving you a percentage score on your driving behavior. It will also make recommendations, like suggesting the truck has been sitting at idle for too long. This is not the very basic UD prime mover from twenty years ago, this is a modern state-of-the-art truck, disguised as a Japanese one. .

Prime Mover Magazine / April 23, 2019 The sheer scale of original equipment manufacturers that assemble at the Brisbane Truck Show makes it a world class event and for many in the commercial road transport industry it represents a mecca in which to view and engage with the latest vehicles, newest equipment and advances in technology made available in seminars and shared information sessions. Dating back to 1968, the biennial Brisbane Truck Show on 16-19 May occasions a pilgrimage to Southeast Queensland for many in road transport where four days of product showcases will offer a glimpse into the near future of the industry. Located at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre for the fifth time, the event is supported by the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council. South Bank Parklands will again help to co-ordinate the extension of the show into the entertainment and restaurant precinct providing it with additional atmosphere in the evenings. Part of this transformation involves the launch of the South Bank Roadhouse. The Penske Group returns this year, with offerings from the latest in its Western Star, Detroit and MAN product range. Daysworth has confirmed it will display its next generation Diamond Reo while both SEA Electric and Foton Motor are on board with the latest advances in technology for light-heavy and heavy vehicles. The general public will also get a glimpse of commercial vehicles currently undergoing evaluations long before much anticipated launches in the market. Brisbane-based manufacturer Mack is widely tipped to debut its new Anthem, which until now has made rare appearances at events largely reserved for select media. PACCAR will showcase the latest in Kenworth technology including the remodelled T360 and the new T410. For many attendees the Brisbane Truck Show is the first opportunity to take in the test models of the Freightliner Cascadia ahead of its arrival next year. Mercedes-Benz are expected to display its new SoloStar concept, a roomy interior with a lounge set-up boasting a 900mm bunk, making it the biggest bed on the market. There’s also speculation that the mirrorless, partly autonomous Mercedes-Benz Actros on show at Hannover last year will also be part of its display in Brisbane. One of the highlights at this year’s event will be the National Apprentice Challenge, which has attracted a record amount of entries from all parts of the country according to Steve Power, Heavy Vehicle Industry Association National Manager Communications. “It’s quite a dynamic audience driven event with commentary and interviews going on over the whole four days of the show,” he says. “Heats take about an hour and a half and the event will culminate with a final on the Sunday.” Sponsored this year by IVECO, the National Apprentice Challenge will feature three identical vehicles with faults pre-programmed into them. Each team is required to solve the issue in a race against the clock. The contest is run with help from Queensland TAFE SkillsTech, as part of an initiative to develop talent and nurture career paths within the industry. Through a schools-to-industry program, 800 students are bussed in from high schools from around the region and put through a series of seminars from a variety of exhibitors to showcase career paths. This has led to the creation of a Jobs Hub which includes a Jobs Exchange where employees and employers can be matched across over 200 jobs. “This initiative is about promoting our industry more broadly and the career paths that are available,” says Steve. “Typically people think you have to be a driver or mechanic to be involved. That’s not the case. The new Jobs Hub highlights the broad range of career paths available across the different sectors of the industry and the possibilities of working internationally and in leadership positions for major companies.” The Job Exchange allows attendees to submit their resumes and get matched, appropriate to their skills and experience, with jobs online and real employers in the flesh. Steve equates it to speed dating. “I think the program is going to be a real highlight. It will generate a lot of interest within and outside of the industry,” he says. The National Road Transport Association will hold its annual NatRoad Conference in conjunction with the Brisbane Truck Show on 15 May. This year’s main points include technology innovation and safety; improving business health by adopting forward-looking processes and systems; a focused approach to building a diverse workforce and making the industry a career choice for a younger generation; sustainability and keeping abreast of industry news and changes to rules and regulation. Another feature of the event is the Insight Centre sponsored by KPMG who is currently conducting a major study on the road transport industry footprint covering manufacturing, sales, maintenance, service and distribution on behalf of the HVIA. The Australian Trucking Association, NatRoad and the Queensland Trucking Association have all confirmed that they will be running sessions at the Insight Centre over one of the four days. These presentations, according to Steve, will provide real value for visitors with helpful information about managing internal finances, fatigue management and making improvements to their business. Another of the sessions will be dedicated to navigating the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator portal from an operator’s point of view. “Like any event what we’re trying to do is make every visitor’s experience even stronger,” he says. “It’s going to be a useful resource and give them an extra bang for their buck.” Scania has confirmed it will have a New Truck Generation V8 flagship, a Scania XT tipper, a G-series prime mover and two P-series rigids as part of their exhibit. In line with Scania’s commitment to innovative sustainability solutions one of the rigids is dedicated to running on alternative fuels. Drake Collectibles celebrates its tenth anniversary at the event. The celebrations will include original tooling from their first ever model, merchandise, new diecast product announcements and Q&A sessions on how the models are created. The Drake Group will showcase the premium finish and high quality of its Drake and O’Phee heavy haulage trailers. JOST Australia will unveil its latest development in towing hitch technology with the help of its ROCKINGER range. Part of its showcase will involve the RO*50E towing hitch which it claims permits gentle coupling even at difficult drawbar eye angles. ROCKINGER has also developed a camera which acts as a driver’s third eye whereby the driver is able to see the exact position of the drawbar eye and can engage the coupling in a targeted manner minus visual misalignment. Under the umbrella of Australian Heavy Vehicle Industry Week, the Brisbane Truck Show will continue to announce additional keynote presentations, forums and entertainment in the following weeks. .

At the end of 2016, ZF entered into two joint ventures with Chinese truckmaker Foton to produce and sell commercial truck transmissions. The partners have now opened a production plant in Jiaxing, to the south of Shanghai. The companies will focus primarily on the production of automated manual transmissions (AMTs) for heavy and light commercial trucks. The joint venture, known as ZF Foton HCV Automated Transmissions (Jiaxing) Co., Ltd., in which ZF holds a 51% share, is focused on heavy commercial trucks. The main objectives of the JV is the production and marketing in China of ZF’s TraXon transmission system. The TraXon system will be integrated into Foton heavy trucks. “In China, the demand for automated transmission systems for light and heavy commercial trucks is growing strongly,” explains Wolf-Henning Scheider, Chief Executive Officer of ZF Friedrichshafen AG. “Together with our partner Foton, we will produce our latest transmission technology in China and thus offer our local customers more efficiency, comfort and safety.” Compared to manual transmissions, the TraXon AMT transmission reduces fleet average fuel consumption by up to 5 percent. Heyi Xu, CEO of Foton’s parent company BAIC Group, added: “This joint venture sees the joined hands of two industry leaders. It speaks for the product innovation and business capabilities of BAIC, and ZF global leadership in transmission products and manufacturing. Both parties will leverage on their respective technology and strengths, form a modular and standard production platform, in order to produce cutting-edge, efficient and intelligent transmission products for the world. We will provide Chinese customers of commercial vehicles the desired world-class products, leading the development of the sector.” ZF Foton HCV Automated Transmissions (Jiaxing) Co., Ltd. began production today. Production capacity in Jiaxing will be expanded successively and this is where ZF will produce the TraXon 12-speed transmission for the Chinese market. With an efficiency factor of 99.7 percent, TraXon is the most efficient commercial vehicle transmission on the market today and can be combined with additional functions, ensuring its viability for future market developments. These functions include, for example, ZF’s predictive gearshift strategy PreVision GPS. With improved use of the rolling function this can further increase efficiency. The off-road and rock-free functions can improve the transmission performance during winter months, or in special vehicle applications. Moreover, ZF Foton HCV will offer the TraXon transmission system together with the Intarder [retarder] transmission brake. This effectively brakes heavy trucks without strain or wear on the service brakes. The Intarder can increase safety and extend the service interval, thus offering additional cost advantages in practice. Production of the Intarder will also take place in Jiaxing. A second joint venture, Foton ZF LCV Automated Transmissions (Jiaxing) Co., Ltd.,in which ZF holds a 40-percent share, produces transmissions for light commercial trucks in Jiaxing for the Chinese market. .

https://paccarpowertrain.com/#section-integrated-powertrain

British Army decides to reduce its tank fleet size by a third Defense Blog / April 20, 2019 The UK army’s fleet of Challenger 2 main battle tanks is to be stripped by a third, according to The Times. According to the sensationalist media report, the British Army is planning to revamp only 148 of its 227 Challenger 2 tanks because of cost constraints. Also notes that the remaining main battle tanks would be used for spare parts, though it said that some tanks could be patched up for deployment in an emergency. This statement was a real shock to a number of military experts who voiced concerns over plans to cut British tank fleet. The “new” British Army would have 87 times fewer tanks compared with Russia. In the decade after the end of the Cold War, Great Britain lost its tanks production and can now lose most of its tank fleet, which in 1991 consisted of nearly 800 combat vehicles. Challenger 2 is a heavily armoured, highly mobile Main Battle Tank, designed for use in the direct fire zone. Its primary role is to destroy or neutralize armour. However, it has the ability to engage both hard and soft targets and can operate across a spectrum of high-intensity conflict, counterinsurgency and peacekeeping roles. The vehicle is equipped with an L30 120mm rifled tank gun, firing both long rod penetrator and High Explosive Squash Head (HESH) ammunition natures. Secondary armaments are provided with a 7.62mm co-axial chain gun and a 7.62mm pintle mounted General Purpose Machine Gun. The UK needs to upgrade its fleet of Challenger 2 tanks to be able to compete with a new generation of highly dangerous Russian tanks. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- British Army outgunned by Cambodia after tank cuts The Times / April 19, 2019 Defence chiefs have expressed anger that Britain is to mothball a third of its tanks, leaving it with fewer tanks than Serbia, Cambodia or Burma. The military is planning to revamp only 148 of its 227 Challenger 2 tanks because of cost constraints, The Times has learnt. That would send the armed forces down to 56th in the global league table of number of tanks available. The remainder of the Challenger 2s, which entered service between 1998 and 2002, are expected to be used for parts. It is possible that some could be patched up for deployment in an emergency. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related reading - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challenger_2