Electrification now reaches the farthest corners of the automotive industry, and one of those corners is construction trucks.
Efficient Drivetrains and Chinese company Shaanxi Automotive have developed the world's first plug-in hybrid Class-8, 32-ton cement mixer truck -using the EDI PowerDrive 8000.
Shannxi Automotive is the world’s tenth largest medium and heavy duty truck manufacturer.
The goal of the project is to significantly reduce fuel consumption and eliminate the need for engine idle by electrifying the operation of the mixer.
Unfortunately, no data on all-electric range or time of idle operation was provided.
"The immense scale of urbanization in China—the fastest in history, paired with rigorous government-led mandates to reduce emissions has created a substantial rise in the electrification of medium and heavy duty vehicles. Shaanxi Automotive has proactively committed to new energy as part of its portfolio of vehicle offerings, and continues to lead the way in providing zero-emissions vehicles featuring electric as a primary fuel source--comprising almost 50% of its market share. The collaboration between Efficient Drivetrains and Shaanxi Automotive to capture the construction industry marks the third successful initiative for the two companies, with PHEV mass transit and port truck offerings available today as part of previous engagements."
"Truck operators will experience the expected full power vehicle performance of the OEM, while eliminating harmful emissions. The demonstration vehicle also utilizes a low-cost drivetrain system, which makes electrification of construction vehicles an affordable option for OEMs in China."
Joerg Ferchau, CEO, Efficient Drivetrains, Inc. said:
“We continue to see a continuing and expanded industry trend towards the electrification of medium and heavy duty trucks across the globe. EDI established a market leadership position early on with our differentiated portfolio of hybrid and electric drivetrain offerings, and we continue to innovate to drive change for the commercial vehicle industry. Our careful selection of distinguished influencer partnerships-like those of Shaanxi, and platform deployments on other major OEMs like Freightliner, Peterbilt, GM, Ford, International, and others, has positioned the company well to capture the market share.”
Taylor Yu, Head of China Development, Efficient Drivetrains, Inc. said:
“The China government is working to an aggressive timetable to phase out fossil-fuel powered vehicles, which has resulted in a paramount time for EDI. Our high-caliber development organization in China is a testament to our ability to rapidly design, innovate, and build electrified vehicles for some of the world’s largest OEMs. We look forward to continuing to bring PHEV and EV solutions to our expanding China customer base.”