Latest news with #electrictrucks
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
WattEV breaks ground on sixth electric truck charging depot at Port of Oakland
WattEV, a provider of heavy-duty electrification services and charging infrastructure, recently broke ground on its sixth heavy-duty electric truck charging depot in California at the Port of Oakland. The new facility will establish a zero-emission freight corridor connecting the Bay Area to Sacramento, Nevada and WattEV's existing Southern California operations. 'We've been working towards opening a Northern California charging depot for several years,' said Salim Youssefzadeh, CEO and co-founder of WattEV in a press release. 'Until now, most truck charging infrastructure has been concentrated in Southern California. This project marks a significant milestone for WattEV, the Bay Area, and California's zero emission freight future.' Youssefzadeh told FreightWaves the Oakland depot will feature 15 240-kilowatt CCS dispensers and six MCS dispensers. The release notes the company aims to enable concurrent charging of 25 medium and heavy-duty electric trucks. Designed from the ground up for megawatt charging, the facility aims to reduce charging 'dwell times' to 30 minutes or less compared to the hours required with kilowatt charging. WattEV's has a unique approach, where it is both an infrastructure provider who also operates its own trucking fleet. This allows the company to test vehicle capabilities, establish efficient routes, and build relationships with shippers. 'We don't want to see our stations sit idle,' Youssefzadeh explained. 'We came up with the idea of creating a transport company not with the idea of becoming a large-scale transporter but testing the capabilities of the vehicles, building relationships with shippers, testing the routes, and then being able to give those to owner-operators as we scale up.' Looking ahead to 2026, Youssefzadeh predicts the emergence of megawatt-capable vehicles, with the Tesla Semi currently supporting MCC capabilities. WattEV has ordered 40 Tesla Semis and is already testing two in its fleet, with most manufacturers committed to the megawatt charging standard. The Oakland facility expands WattEV's existing network of five charging depots throughout Southern California. The company has 15 additional sites under development that will cover the entire West Coast from San Diego to Washington, with plans to operate 100 charging stations by 2035. The post WattEV breaks ground on sixth electric truck charging depot at Port of Oakland appeared first on FreightWaves. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Forbes
05-07-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
Forget Tesla's Semi, Volvo Trucks Are Electrifying Heavy Haulage Now
Volvo's FH Aero Electric promises up to 373 miles of 44-ton goods haulage. The transition to electric cars is moving fast in the UK and Europe, but the same cannot be said of commercial vehicles – particularly trucks. While there is now a huge choice of EVs available for personal use, the development of electrified heavy haulage has been much slower. Tesla's much-anticipated Semi has continually slipped with first customer deliveries now expected in March 2026. But one company leading the transition right now is Volvo Trucks. I talked to the Volvo Group Chief Technology Officer, Lars Stenqvist, about how his company is leading the decarbonization of road-based heavy goods delivery. 5,000 Electric Volvo Trucks On The Road Despite the name, Volvo Group, which owns the Volvo Trucks brand, is a separate company to Volvo Cars, having been separated out in 1999. This means that while the passenger car division is now under the ownership of Chinese company Geely, the commercial vehicles are still Swedish, although Volvo Group has other collaborations. Flexis vans come from a collaboration with Renault Group and shipping company CMA CGM. Volvo Group also owns Renault Trucks. Volvo Group's electric commercial vehicle range is already extensive, and has delivered over 5,000 electric trucks worldwide since 2019, logging more than 100 million miles of haulage. This makes it the biggest seller of electric heavy goods vehicles globally. The company makes the FM, FMX, FL, and FH, with electric ranges from 300km (186 miles) to 450km (280 miles). Volvo Group also makes electric diggers and buses, with the latter having autonomous potential, which could be used for moving passengers around airports, for example. Volvo Group also makes electric digging vehicles, as well as electric trucks. The Volvo FH Aero Electric is particularly important. Set to arrive later in 2025, this truck promises ranges up to 600km (373 miles), making long distance haulage possible. Having tested this vehicle myself on a private Volvo Group site, I found that, apart from the huge size of a 44-ton articulated truck, the FH Aero makes driving remarkably easy and not very noisy either. Sound and vibration contribute to driver fatigue, so the FH Aero can improve employee job satisfaction and safety. 'We are seen as pioneers, both in Europe and North America,' says Stenqvist. 'We offer vehicles up to 44-ton tractor-trailer combinations suitable for up to regional haul right now. From next year, we will start to produce vehicles that are more optimized for long haul, with up to 780kWh electric energy on board. We are proof that you can electrify heavy haulage.' Varying European Markets For Volvo Trucks However, uptake of electric trucks varies greatly even in Europe, where personal EV sales are burgeoning. 'It differs a lot between countries in Europe,' says Stenqvist. 'If you take Europe overall, only 1.5% of heavy-duty trucks were registered as zero emission vehicles in the first quarter of 2025. That is almost zero, you could say, so that's when you consider the glass to be half empty. If you consider the glass to be half full, then you must look at statistics from different countries. Then you have, for example, Switzerland, with around 11%; Norway, with around 9%; Sweden, north of 7%. When you come to a point around 10% then everyone sees that this is happening. This means that it will also be more interesting to invest in, for example, charging infrastructure, which is the true bottleneck to scale this to the levels where we need to be by 2030.' Volvo Group is also helping with this lack of charging infrastructure. Although some countries including the UK have plenty of ultra-rapid DC chargers for passenger EVs, even 350kW is a bit puny if your truck has hundreds of kWh of batteries. At the EVS38 event in Gothenburg in June, Volvo Group was demonstrating its collaboration with Milence to deliver Megawatt charging. The demonstration only hit 684kW, averaging around 630kW, but Volvo Group claimed this was a limitation of the current truck generation, and future vehicles will charge faster. 'That's definitely the trend,' says Stenqvist. 'If you have long-haul battery electric trucks with almost 800kWh on board, and you want to charge it during, let's say, the lunch break of the driver, then you need to have power levels of 700-750 kilowatts, or up to 1MW.' Megawatt charging will be essential for long-distance electric road haulage. Strangely, despite the UK just posting June personal car sales figures where BEVs were a quarter of the market, it's not one of the European countries leading with electric trucks yet. 'UK is very low,' says Stenqvist. 'Those countries where we see a clear uptake, around 10%, have good long-term incentive schemes in place. This makes it much easier for our customers to plan, because you must be long term when you're investing in these vehicles. The best driver is when you have usage-based incentives. In Switzerland, they have zero road tax for zero emission vehicles. It's very easy to remember: zero for zero. That means that they let the polluting technology pay for the transition. It's a very smart move, and that would stimulate the uptake in other countries. There is no reason for any country in Europe not to achieve 10% right now, but to go above the 10%, you need to invest heavily in charging infrastructure.' What About Hydrogen-Powered Volvo Trucks? Not everyone is convinced that battery electrification is the way forward for heavy goods haulage. Although fleet solutions provider VEV disagrees, there are companies that believe hydrogen will be a better way forward, such as UK initiative HyHaul. Volvo Trucks has offerings both for hydrogen fuel cells and combustion, although these are not in full commercial production yet, unlike its BEVs. 'We are very committed to decarbonizing road transport infrastructure, and we are convinced that there will be more than one technology needed to deliver on that commitment,' says Stenqvist. 'There are varying demands when it comes to different applications, but also different regions. There will be a lot of battery electric vehicles, but you will also see fuel cell electric vehicles operating on hydrogen. And we also believe that the combustion engine has a role to play in the long run in our industry. That's why we are going broad.' 'You will see applications that are more suitable for different technologies, but you will see even more regions that have a sweet spot for the different technologies,' says Stenqvist. 'One country where I'm very optimistic when it comes to hydrogen is India. India has a lot of potential for solar energy, and they can convert it to hydrogen at a very attractive price point. There are already today initiatives in India stimulating the uptake of hydrogen in the transport sector.' Volvo is still pursuing other energy sources for its trucks including hydrogen. The Middle East could also be a major player in a future hydrogen economy, as a replacement for its current oil business. 'Since we will see a dramatic drop in the consumption of fossil-based fuels, they need something else,' says Stenqvist. 'The Energy Minister of Saudi Arabia has a very clear focus on solar energy being converted to hydrogen and then exported either as liquid hydrogen or as ammonia. I'm convinced that you will see that being transported on ships. I even foresee that we will see pipeline distribution as well, carrying ammonia or hydrogen directly.' Methanol has been gaining interest in China as a decarbonizing fuel for both passenger and long-haul heavy goods vehicles. Farizon's Homtruck is a range-extending methanol vehicle, with 400km of pure electric range and another 1,000km with the methanol power. Around 5,000 trucks in China use Methanol M100, alongside 25-30,000 passenger vehicles. However, Stenqvist doesn't see this fuel being significant outside China. 'We have tested several different alternative renewable fuels,' he says. 'We do not foresee that there will be huge volumes of methanol going forward. We are more optimistic when it comes to synthetic e-fuel diesels, but also very optimistic when it comes to different kinds of methane, such as biogas or liquefied biogas.' Decarbonizing road haulage still faces many challenges, despite the success of Volvo Trucks so far. One of the main ones will be that the world's largest economy, the USA, is backpedaling away from green technology towards climate change denial. 'We are in rough waters right now,' says Stenqvist. 'We see that the transformation is slowing down, but I'm convinced that so many people believe that this transformation is necessary. We have so much evidence when it comes to climate change, we know what we need to do. This will happen. The wheels are turning. I'm convinced the technology will continue to be developed to deliver electrified road haulage.'
Forbes
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' Threatens America's Trucking Future
Before your food gets to the fridge, it likely travels long distances—on a diesel truck. From apples to iPhones, trucks move 72% of goods sold in America's stores, and freight costs shape what consumers pay, with those costs dictated by the volatile price of diesel fuel. Now, a quiet revolution is underway: Electric heavy-duty trucks are taking over the roads, and they could drive down consumer costs by cutting what it costs to ship the goods we buy. Global sales jumped 80% in 2024 compared to the year before—a surge that signals the shift is accelerating. San Pedro, CA - December 17: The first two zero-emissions electric trucks, from an order of 100 ... More vehicles, delivered from the Nikola Corporation to Total Transportation Services at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro on Friday, December 17, 2021. (Photo by Brittany Murray/MediaNews Group/Long Beach Press-Telegram via Getty Images) While the shift is most visible abroad, Energy Innovation's new report Delivering Affordability shows the same economic forces are taking hold across the United States. Battery-electric trucks will soon be cheaper than diesel trucks based on total cost of ownership across most vehicle types by 2030—even without subsidies. The potential payoffs for the American economy are significant: lower freight costs, lower consumer costs, expanded domestic manufacturing, and stronger global competitiveness. But that potential is at risk. The fate of federal clean energy tax credits in 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' being debated by Congress will dictate whether the U.S. stays in the race or falls behind just as momentum builds. States are stepping up—but the version of the bill passed by one vote in the House of Representatives threatens to derail this transition. The question now is whether federal policy will steady the course or undermine it. The Cost Case for Electric Heavy-Duty Vehicles Energy Innovation's rigorous TCO analysis captures five-year ownership costs for battery-electric trucks—including vehicle purchase, fuel, maintenance, and charging infrastructure. The findings exclude federal and state purchase incentives. The results are striking. Across all categories, including Class 8 long-haul tractors, battery-electric trucks are projected to beat diesel by decade's end. And by 2035, electric truck TCO savings are estimated at $20,000 for Class 4–7 models, and more than $50,000 for Class 8 tractors. Still, today's sticker prices may raise questions. Globally, electric truck prices are falling, but the U.S. is a stubborn outlier. While costs fall in Europe and China, U.S. prices have risen. Two factors stand out: lack of new vehicle purchase price transparency and limited manufacturer competition. Reforms that address both would help align U.S. prices with global trends. What's at Stake: Affordability, Manufacturing, and Global Competitiveness Lower trucking costs ripple through supply chains, easing consumer price pressure. As inflation remains a top concern, electric HDVs offer a long-term deflationary lever hiding in plain sight. But the stakes go further. Since 2021, the U.S. has become the world's top destination for electric vehicle and battery manufacturing. Companies have committed $209 billion to U.S. EV projects, supporting an estimated 240,000 quality jobs. Mississippi officials described one such project, a commercial vehicle battery factory, as the largest payroll commitment in state history. The battery waits to be installed on the frame of Ford Motor Co. battery powered F-150 Lightning ... More trucks under production at their Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan on September 20, 2022. - Construction crews are back at Dearborn, remaking Ford's century-old industrial complex once again, this time for a post-petroleum era that is finally beginning to feel possible. The manufacturing operation's prime mission in recent times has been to assemble the best-selling F-150, a gasoline-powered vehicle (Photo by JEFF KOWALSKY / AFP) (Photo by JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty Images) Vehicle electrification is also a national competitiveness imperative. The International Energy Agency projects EVs (including plug-in hybrids) will make up 25% of global car sales in 2025, up from just 4% in 2020. Trucks are following suit: electric truck sales rose 80% globally in 2024. The message is clear—the market is moving. If the U.S. retreats, it won't stop the transition. It will just watch from the sidelines. States Can Stay In The Fast Lane Despite Federal Repeals Amid federal uncertainty, states have emerged as key actors. But even their leadership is under pressure as Congress recently voted to repeal California's vehicle pollution standards, which has also been adopted by many other states. Some states have signaled they will mount legal challenges, but this has introduced new uncertainty. To keep momentum, they should prioritize purchase incentives, accelerate charger deployment and prioritize affordable electricity rates. States can fast-track infrastructure by coordinating corridor plans, aligning funding, and adopting shared standards. Multi-state collaboration can ensure chargers are built where fleets need them most. Prioritizing affordable electricity rates, especially in states where wildfire-related costs are driving rates up. Energy Innovation's clean industrial rate design work points to a solution: lower rates for flexible demand. HDV charging is power-intensive enough to qualify as industrial use, with more flexibility than most industrial loads. The Fork in the Road Congress' effort to repeal California's standards is part of a broader push to dismantle the policies that sparked America's clean manufacturing surge. Federal rollbacks won't halt the global EV shift, but they could stall U.S. progress at a critical moment. They risk eroding investor confidence, slowing adoption, and jeopardizing billions in supply chain investment. This momentum isn't an engine that can be thrown in reverse. Manufacturing investments slowing in the United States over time The 'One Big Beautiful Bill' presents a pivotal choice. Preserving existing federal clean energy tax credits would send a powerful signal of continuity and commitment. Undermining them would reverse the very progress that made electric trucks viable in the first place, and now increasingly superior. The path to lower freight costs, expanded manufacturing, and stronger competitiveness is still within reach—but only if federal policy holds and states keep leading.
Zawya
23-06-2025
- Automotive
- Zawya
EGME marks two years of electrifying truck fleets with launch of three new models at Mobility Live Middle East 2025
Dubai, UAE: Emirates Global Motor Electric (EGME), a subsidiary of Al Fahim Group and leading regional provider of electric commercial vehicle turnkey solutions, is marking two years of success as the exclusive distributor of SANY electric trucks, in the UAE, by announcing the introduction of three new models into their fleet offering. All new models will be officially launched and immediately available in the UAE market from the first day of the Mobility Live Middle East 2025. From day one of its operations, EGME has been at the forefront of the region's sustainable transport and logistics transformation. Indeed, the launch of these new models is not only being hailed as a clear sign of the company's rapid growth and success, this milestone event also represents the official start of 'Phase 2' of its regional expansion plan. In 'Phase 1', EGME started with just two electric truck models – the SANY Heavy Duty Truck (6x4, 350 kWh) and the Light Duty Truck (105 kWh). Over the last two years, EGME has overseen the deployment of 30 Heavy Duty Trucks and 10 Light Duty Trucks with leading global logistics and transport partners, including: DSV, Einride, Emirates Logistics, DB Schenker, Kuehne + Nagel, Red Lines International, Massar Solutions and AVL General Land Transport. Sany trucks are an increasingly visible feature on the roads of the UAE – operating daily across varied applications and industry sectors. Multi-purpose and versatile, Sany Electric trucks are fast becoming the electric commercial vehicles (ECVs) of choice by the likes of container transport operators, first and last-mile deliveries, and aggregate transportation, among many other segments. Of course, each industry sector has their specific challenges and demands, but Sany Electric Trucks continue to prove themselves – time and again – in areas of both performance and viability, and they are particularly at ease in the region's demanding climate and terrain. Located on Stand J20, Dubai World Trade Centre, EGME's participation at the event represents major opportunity to showcase its electric truck business achievements and showcase the new models being added to its fleet offering. The three new models to be unveiled are the: SANY Electric 8x4 Dump Truck – 25 CBM load capacity, ideal for site, quarry and crusher operations. Sany Electric 4x2 Chassis 1 2 Tonne Payload – adaptable for municipality vehicles, midmile logistics, and F&B distribution. Sany Electric 6x4 Tractor head with 588 kWh battery – for extended singlecharge range for material and container transport. In tandem with these vehicles' UAE market introductions, EGME has also revealed it is investing in turnkey 'electrification' solutions for its clients. These include end-to-end vehicle supply, software for fleet management battery swapping station solutions, and Depot DC group charging infrastructure. According to EGME, these integrated offerings simplify the transition to commercial EVs for its clients, while also aligning with the UAE's national goalfor sustainable mobility. 'Over the past two years, we've not only proven that electric trucks can operate reliably in the UAE, we've also laid the foundation for a scalable, smart ecosystem for the growth and adoption of commercially operated electric fleets – across multiple industry sectors,' said Hany Tawfik, General Manager of Emirates Global Motor Electric. As part of its participation at Mobility Live Middle East 2025, EGME has issued an invitation to industry stakeholders, partners, and fleet operators to visit them on their stand. Here, they can further understand the expanded electric mobility portfolio and explore collaborative pathways towards a cleaner, more efficient future in transportation. Emirates Global Motor Electric, a member of Al Fahim group, is a complete sustainable mobility solution provider specialized in Battery Electric and Hydrogen Commercial Vehicles as well as innovative charging solutions. EGME is the exclusive distributor for Sany Battery Electric & Hydrogen trucks, MCV Battery Electric Buses, Wisdom Motors Hydrogen buses, and Asiastar Yaxing electric vans in the UAE. EGME is also the distributor of Luobinsen chargers in the UAE.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Westwell Unveils E-Truck S2 and Q-Truck at TOC Europe 2025
New electric and autonomous heavy-duty models deliver enhanced performance, comfort, and scalability—advancing Westwell's vision for intelligent, sustainable freight operations. ROTTERDAM, Netherlands, June 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Westwell returned to TOC Europe, held this year from June 17–19, where the truck maker debuted its next-generation E-Truck S2 and flagship autonomous Q-Truck, alongside its full-stack intelligent logistics solutions under the theme "AI YOUR LOGISTICS." The E-Truck S2 is a fully electric, upgradeable, autonomous-capable heavy-duty vehicle, developed entirely in-house by Westwell. Building on the success of its predecessor, the E-Truck S1—already in service at global hubs including Thailand's Laem Chabang Port, Peru's Chancay Port, and Pakistan's Karachi Port (SAPT)—the S2 addresses legacy pain points like vibration, noise, and emissions. Driver-centric features include an air-ride seat and a high-output overhead air conditioner, while a transmission-free design and centralized lubrication system cut down on maintenance complexity and cost. E-Truck S2 Delivers A New Level of Innovation and Performance: The advanced AI-VCU (Vehicle Control Unit) uses multi-modal AI algorithms to actively optimize performance, energy efficiency, and component longevity in real time—adapting to operating conditions, driving behavior, and system status to make the vehicle smarter with every mile. A wheel-side reduction axle paired with air suspension and a V-type thrust rod helps absorb impact from container loads and improves roll stability by 25%. A dual-action hydraulic lift system powered by PTO streamlines loading cycles for faster turnaround. The cab, measuring 1540×1550×1750mm, is designed for maximum space and ergonomic comfort. Outfitted with high-capacity 282kWh and 310kWh LFP battery options, the truck delivers over 16 hours of runtime on a single charge. The E-Truck S2 runs on Westwell's next-gen steer-by-wire chassis (2.0), which also powers the Qomolo autonomous platform—enabling a smooth path to driverless operation and future-ready scalability. Ainergy Strategy in Motion: Global-Scale Smart Logistics, Fully Integrated In alignment with Westwell's Ainergy Strategy—blending AI and energy innovation—the company introduced ReeWell, its all-scenario dispatch and coordination platform. ReeWell offers a fully integrated solution to help logistics operators evolve from siloed automation to a unified intelligent ecosystem. Also on display was the field-tested Q-Truck, a returning highlight of Westwell's TOC lineup. Built around a proprietary multi-task, multi-view perception engine with fused front sensing, Bird's Eye View (BEV), and Transformer-based decisioning, the Q-Truck delivers unmatched situational awareness and autonomous precision. Already deployed in full commercial use across several global ports, the Q-Truck is redefining what's possible in autonomous logistics. At the Port of Felixstowe in the UK, the first Q-Truck fleet now powers round-the-clock unmanned operations, fully integrated into the port's daily workflows. Meanwhile, CSP Abu Dhabi Terminal has scaled up with 12 additional Q-Trucks this year—advancing the site's end-to-end autonomous operations. These projects are now global benchmarks in autonomous port logistics, proving both efficiency gains and operational repeatability at scale. Speaking at the event, Westwell President Zhang Rong stated, "The future of logistics is smart, sustainable, and collaborative. AI is rearchitecting logistics infrastructure, and environmental responsibility is no longer optional. Across seaports, airports, and freight networks, we're seeing the rise of self-optimizing, sustainable systems that are reshaping the global supply chain." View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Westwell Sign in to access your portfolio
