Alkane Truck Company News

[kscarbel2]

Heavy Duty Trucking / November 9, 2015

Alkane Truck Company is establishing a new manufacturing facility in Summerville, S.C. where the OEM will build its recently announced line of Class 7 cabover alternative fuel trucks.

Alkane will to hire over 300 automotive technicians and employees as the company expands to include the new models. The 100,000-square-foot facility is expected to reach full capacity in two years. The company is currently leasing an existing manufacturing facility in Summerville, to produce the new product line.

The Alkane Class 7 cabover trucks will go into full production in the first quarter of 2016 to be sold at around 130 dealerships in the U.S. and Canada.

Headquartered in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Alkane specializes in trucks that run on alternative fuels like liquid propane autogas, compressed natural gas and liquefied natural gas.

“We have the first and currently the only cab over truck of this weight class powered exclusively with either LPG or CNG in America; that is special,” said Bob Smith, CEO of Alkane. “We will be hiring well over 300 automotive technicians and adding employees as we continue to expand our business to include additional models.”

Related reading - http://www.truckinginfo.com/channel/fuel-smarts/news/story/2014/08/chinese-gliders-are-platforms-for-new-american-class-7-8-trucks.aspx

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[kscarbel2]

Alkane COE Trucks Get DOT Approval

Heavy Duty Trucking / November 12, 2015

Alkane Truck Co. says it has achieved compliance certification from the U.S. Department of Transportation for its propane-fueled Class 7 cab-over-engine trucks, and will begin assembly at a plant in South Carolina early next year.

Brakes, wheels and tires, axles, seat belts, lights, interior fabric and glass had to be submitted to laboratories for testing, said Steve Rayborn, Alkane’s sales vice president. All items have to meet federal standards and regulations, and specialty laboratories tested each component of concern to DOT.

“There’s a lab for every feature,” he said, and the process was expensive. “If we knew five years ago what this was going to cost, we might have thought twice about it. But we’ve done it, and we’re glad we did it.”

The trucks will use cabs and chassis from China, with other components sourced from North American suppliers. The powertrain will include a Power Solutions International 8.8-liter V-8 that’s based on a General Motors block, and an Allison 2500 six-speed automatic transmission. The engine, with 270 hp and 565 lb-ft of torque, delivers diesel-like performance at a lower cost, Rayborn said.

http://www.psiengines.com/whatwedo/on-highway-engines/

The current fleet-volume discounted price of a diesel-equivalent gallon of liquid propane is $1.15 compared to $2.49 or more for diesel fuel, noted Bob Smith, Alkane’s chief executive officer.

It will be the only medium-duty COE truck in the U.S. that uses propane autogas fuel, he said. A targeted niche market is propane distributors, some of whom have already expressed interest.

COE Class 7 trucks, rated at 26,001 to 33,000 pounds gross weight, are widely used for inter-city operations due to their tight turning radius and excellent maneuverability, he said. They are used for delivery of freight, furniture, fuel and beverages and other applications.

“We are excited about our new truck,” Smith said. “We’re equally excited to bring new skilled jobs to American workers. Our assembly facility in Dorchester County (South Carolina) will employ more than 300 automotive technicians once it reaches full capacity.”

Development continues on a Class 8 truck and tractor, also using Chinese cabs and chassis with domestic powertrain and other components, Rayborn said. The engine will be a Cummins ISX12 G set up to burn compressed natural gas.

The heavy vehicle should be ready for production toward the end of 2016. The Chinese supplier is Foton, one of the largest truck builders in that country.

“We are the agency of service for Foton,” he said. “No one else can bring one in.”

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[kscarbel2]

Alkane Truck inks truck deal with Brazil’s Agrale

Commercial Carrier Journal  /  February 8, 2017

Alkane Truck Company has signed an agreement with Brazilian truck manufacturer, Agrale that gives the South Carolina-based truck manufacturer sole representation for sales and service in North America.

Together, Alkane and Agrale will offer a new class 7 truck line and various commercial chassis options for recreational and public transportation vehicles.

“We are very excited about having exclusivity with Agrale in the North American market,” says Alkane CEO Bob Smith. “The unique vehicles we will be offering through Agrale will fill existing market voids.”

“We are ready to move forward and we anticipate the North American market will be very receptive to these rugged and durable vehicles,” Smith says. “This agreement is a unique and exciting opportunity for both companies, and we look forward to working together.”

Alkane brings to the market a unique production and distribution model, using streamlined manufacturing and distribution to reduce costs and allow Alkane to offer more competitively priced vehicles in their respective markets.

Alkane imports the main body and chassis as an assemblage of parts and incorporates U.S.-manufactured components such as engines, transmissions, fuel systems, wheels, tires, brakes, safety elements and other key components required for DOT compliance.

Agrale Class 7 spec Model 14000 S (GVW 14,000kg/30,865lb) - http://www.agrale.com.br/pdf/en/trucks_medium_truck_agrale_14000_s_1.pdf?date=1486949438

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[Red Horse]

Can't imagine how these guys can make the economics work.

[kscarbel2]

Alkane Explores Partnership with Cummins

Heavy Duty Trucking  /  March 8, 2017

Alkane Truck Company, a South Carolina-based assembler of alternative-fuel vehicles, is exploring a supply agreement with diesel engine manufacturer Cummins Inc., to offer clean diesel engine options for Alkane’s line of heavy-duty trucks and off-road vehicles. 

Pending successful engineering tests and modifications, Alkane has identified three Cummins engines to offer its customers the V5.0 engine for the Alkane Dominator [rebadged Agrale "Marrua"], the B6.7 diesel engine for the Class 7, and, once it becomes available in 2018, the X12 engine for the Alkane Class 8 heavy-duty trucks. This supply agreement would accelerate the company's operations and vision of introducing clean diesel engines to join the broad range of alternative fuel vehicles for the trucking and off-road vehicle industries in America. 

This supply agreement would accelerate the company's operations and vision of introducing clean diesel engines to join the broad range of alternative fuel vehicles for the trucking and off-road vehicle industries in America. 

“Because of the overwhelming interest of so many of our 103 dealership locations across North America, we’ve decided to include the option of a clean diesel fuel engine in our Dominator, our Class 7 and our Class 8 series trucks,” says Robert Smith, CEO of Alkane Truck Company. "Alkane and Cummins engineering teams have met in the last several weeks to develop production plans for the addition of the clean diesel fuel engines to the Alkane line of vehicles. We’re thrilled that we may be able to offer these engines to our Alkane customers in the near future.”

The first of the three Cummins engine options Alkane hopes to offer customers is the V5.0, which has been engineered to combine advanced materials, the latest High Pressure Common Rail (HPCR) fuel system, Cummins VGT Turbocharger and Cummins emission control technology to produce an extraordinarily clean, quiet, and fuel efficient V-8 diesel engine.

With fuel economy as a primary concern, switching from a gasoline V-8 to the Cummins V5.0 V-8 diesel reduces the cost of operation significantly; diesel fuel economy is typically better than a V-8 gasoline engine of comparable performance. Ideally suited for pickup and delivery vehicles and light- and medium-duty trucks, the V5.0 is also perfect for Alkane’s Dominator--the alternative-fuel off-road answer to the Hummer and new Land Rover Defender.

Alkane is equally excited at the possibility of offering the B6.7 for its Class 7 trucks and the X12 for its Class 8 trucks. This new, more efficient 6.7L engine demonstrates up to 7% better fuel economy over the EPA 2013 B6.7 and the highest gains in key duty cycles running at lower speeds; in inner-city operations, the B6.7 had accumulated over 1.5 million test miles in multiple real-world applications prior to its 2017 launch. According to Cummins, the 2017 B6.7 will be fully capable for the introduction of stop-start technology that will yield further improvements in fuel economy in stop-and-go duty cycles.

The Cummins X12, meanwhile, aims to redefine the medium-bore engine category (10L-13L) by setting a new standard for productivity in regional-haul, vocational, and intermodal truck applications. At least 150 pounds lighter than the next closest competitive engine and up to 600-pounds lighter than other medium-bore engines, the 12-liter will still deliver Alkane trucks a powerful performance from 350 hp to 475 hp and 1250 to 1700 lb.-ft. of peak torque. At just 2,050 pounds, it has the highest power-to-weight ratio of any heavy-duty engine from 10 liters to 16 liters in size, a combination of power and efficiency Alkane Truck Company hopes to be able to offer its customers in 2018 and beyond.All Content

[Red Horse]

Again, don't see how this can work.   5000 trucks a month in class 7 with 6 builders and about the same in class 6.    And from a logistics perspective  you are trucking components all over the place and two "builders each have to get their "cut" ( Alkane and Agrale).  Or are these guys getting some sort of govt. handout from the state?

To say nothing of the preference for conventionals in the US.  If if the cab over market was that attractive, think Ford would be bringing the class 6/7 Cargo components in from Brazil??

[kscarbel2]

Alkane to License Assembly Operations in North America

Heavy Duty Trucking  /  March 17, 2017

Alkane Truck Company, a South Carolina-based assembler of alternative fuel vehicles, has announced plans to establish more than a dozen assembly facilities in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico over the next three years.

The company said it is rolling out the expansion plan to accelerate its production timeline in response to orders from its dealership network. This is the first time that Alkane has offered its business model to independent entrepreneurs.

 “We will provide training for their employees and deliver all components required to assemble Alkane vehicles for direct shipment to our existing and ever-expanding dealership network," said Bob Smith, CEO of Alkane Truck Company. These business partners will own 100% of their associated assembly facility, so profits generated would be entirely their own; and as owners, they'll also be the recipients of any state and local incentives offered to new business startups in their respective regions."

Alkane is currently working with economic development offices to identify potential business partners interested in becoming contract assemblers.

"Proximity to shipping ports, transportation hubs and easy highway access would be ideal," said Smith. "We are looking for a facility of around 20,000 square feet under one roof with about a 30,000 square foot outside staging area and at least one truck-level dock for use loading and unloading with a forklift."

For an initial licensing fee and a monthly charge, each owner or operator will be allowed to use the Alkane brand name, Alkane's EPA, CARB, and DOT certificates, and the company's supply chain to assemble and deliver its Class 7 and 8 trucks as well as the Humvee-style Dominator vehicle.

Assembly facilities will be required to pay for and maintain an inventory of parts while Alkane will provide ongoing support and replacement parts.

"Not a 'franchise' agreement but rather a simple contract, this is an excellent opportunity for anyone interested in vehicle assembly to get into business with very little risk," said Smith. "Bringing an assembly facility into a community can have an incalculable economic impact-- improving the quality of life of local residents, flooding cash into struggling existing companies and paving the way for new startups in ancillary businesses. These will be high-paying, skilled jobs."

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[carlotpilot]

where are the   ( skilled ) coming from?

[Red Horse]

22 minutes ago, carlotpilot said:

where are the   ( skilled ) coming from?

McDonalds!

[carlotpilot]

28 minutes ago, Red Horse said:

McDonalds!

you may be right 

[Red Horse]

20 hours ago, carlotpilot said:

you may be right 

And just think of the fun you will have when you have a warranty issue.  After they answer your call in the Manilla call center, you will give them your serial no.  Then they will tell you..."We will contact your builder sir-and once we find him, he will give you a call"

Who in their right mind would buy such a vehicle???

[RoadwayR]

Wow, not only can you get a franchise to sell the thing, but you can get one to build them too!     

[Red Horse]

14 hours ago, RoadwayR said:

Wow, not only can you get a franchise to sell the thing, but you can get one to build them too!     

House of cards!  It is mind boggling that these guys can think this will work.  Just think of the quality control issues the manufacturers have NOW in a controlled environment. ?