Electric Trucks * Germany - Van concept launched by Opel/Vauxhall

Germany -Transport Engineer (UK), by John Challen -28 Sept 2010: -- Opel has unveiled an electric version of its Vivaro van, which, according to the company, has a very good chance of making it into production... The electric Vivaro is equipped with a 111kW/h lithium-ion battery pack, which supplies 370Nm of torque and enables a range of more than 60 miles. However, an engine is also onboard, which, working with the pure electric propulsion, extends the range to jump to about 250 miles... Chris Lacey, executive director, international operations at Opel/Vauxhall commercial vehicles, explains that the lithium ion battery modules, which can be re-charged on a standard household 240V outlet, are mounted under the floor of the vehicle – so are protected from the elements. The van offers up to 750kg of payload... (Photo from nationwidevehiclecontracts (uk): An Electric van concept launched by Opel and Vauxhall)


* Japan - Mitsubishi Fuso unveils all-electric concept van


(Video from YouTube, by FleetOwnerMagazine -29 Sept 2010: Walk around of the Cantor E-Cell electric truck at the 2010 IAA truck show in Hannover, Germany)

Hanover,Germany -Fleet Owner (USA), by Brian Straight -Sep 29, 2010: -- Mitsubishi Fuso used the recent IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Hannover, Germany, to show off an all-electric concept van based on its popular Canter van... The Canter, which is sold as a Class 3 diesel or hybrid vehicle in the U.S. and around the world, is larger van than the Vito, which is a light-duty vehicle... The batteries, which Daimler said will provide 40 kW-hr for a range of 120 km or about 75 mi., fit along the frame rails of the vehicle. Fully depleted, the batteries will require six hours of charging time from a 380-volt source, Daimler said... With a gross vehicle weight of 3.5 tons, the Canter E-Cell produces 300 Nm and is limited to 80 km/h, or almost 50 mph... It uses a lithium-ion battery for electric power, producing 107 kW (145 hp.) of power. The batteries are designed to last ten years or 300,000 km (186,000 mi.), according to Mitsubishi Fuso. It uses 10-15% less fuel than a conventional diesel-powered light-duty truck and a corresponding reduction in CO2 emissions, the manufacturer added...


* China - Foton, Daimler truck JV deal okayed by shareholders

Beijing,China -Global Times/Gasgoo -September 28, 2010: -- Daimler and Foton Motor Sign Joint Venture Contract and Receive Approval for Truck Production in China... Chinese truck maker Beiqi Foton announced Sunday that all its shareholders have given consent on the deal with Germany's Daimler AG and Daimler North East Asia... The Chinese firm said that the 50-50 truck venture (Foton 50 percent, Daimler AG 40 percent, and Daimler North East Asia 10 percent) Beijing Foton Daimler Automotive Co. would start producing diesel engines in 2011 and trucks in 2012, with annual heavy-duty truck sales projected at 100,000 units from 2012 to 2015...


* China - Aspires to lead global electric vehicle industry. Government Policy Creates Boundaries for Global OEMs

London,UK -Hybrid-EV -Sept. 23, 2010: -- Policies targeting foreign automakers’ technology attract global criticism... China’s policy suggests that barriers will be created for global automakers in an endeavour to accelerate the production of electric and hybrid vehicles in the domestic market. The government is preparing a plan which could force global automakers to share technology with local companies in order to enter into the Chinese market... According to the ten-year US$15bn stimulus plan formulated by the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, global automakers will be required to form minority joint-ventures (JVs) with Chinese manufacturers to participate in the market. Inevitably, it indicates that the government wants to manufacture EVs using intellectual capital built by foreign automakers as part of R&D efforts... In June, the Chinese government announced that it would issue a subsidy policy to encourage mass adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles in the country. The government intends to offer up to CNY60,000 (US$7,175) to consumers for buying EVs and up to CNY50,000 (US$5,979) for plug-in hybrid vehicles... The two-year program will start in five major cities (Shanghai, Hangzhou, Changchun, Shenzhen and Hefei) later this year, and is expected to be extended to buyers in other cities in the future... The subsidies will be available to domestic automakers or JVs only... However, the road map to commercialise EVs in the country with too much government involvement and regulatory practices in such a biased way could jeopardise the image of China in the global market place. The country is already facing criticism from international automakers, including GM, for its electric and hybrid vehicle regulations... (Image: made-in-china: Wuling D150 Electric Truck)


* USA - 15 Minute Recharging Underway for Electric Vehicle Owners from Eaton and Murphy Oil

Detroit,MICH,USA -The Detroit Bureau, by Ken Zino -Sep. 24, 2010: -- It looks like a gas pump back there behind the Mitsubishi, but it's actually a 15-minute recharger... The Achilles’ heal of electric vehicles is range all, except fanatics admit, and in every problem there’s an opportunity. At least that’s the thinking behind the latest announcement from Eaton Corporation and Murphy Oil USA that starts an alliance to provide fast charging for range-challenged EVs at Murphy’s gas stations... After an initial test at one location in Tennessee, the joint venture could expand during the next three years to the more than 1,000 retail gasoline stations in 22 states that Murphy owns and operates... Key here is Eaton’s DC industrial charger, which in theory can provide 15 minute refills of down-and-about-to-be-out-of-spunk EVs. This isn’t a wimpy home charging unit that takes 8 to 12 hours to recharge the EV and cost the owner $1,000 to $2,000 or more to install. Eaton’s is a 500-volt DC powerhouse that is ideal for commercial applications such as service stations and –stay tuned – delivery fleets... (Photo: It looks like a gas pump back there behind the Mitsubishi, but it's actually a 15-minute recharger)


* USA - Total ownership cost key to electric truck appeal

New York,NY,USA -Fleet Owner, by Sean Kilcarr -Sep 30, 2010: -- As more light- and medium-duty all-electric truck models are rolled out for commercial fleets, a new report indicates the future success of such vehicles hinges on their ability to deliver lower total cost of ownership (TCO) then their gasoline- and diesel-powered brethren... According to IDC’s latest report – The Coming Electric Vehicle Rollout: Forecasting the Market – even with depreciation of the pricey battery packs required to power electric vehicles (EVs), they are still typically more cost-effective on a TCO basis compared to petroleum-powered vehicles... Sam Jaffe, research manager for consulting firm IDC Energy, said it costs 10 to 13 cents to push a gasoline-powered car one mile at current prices, but costs somewhere between 2 and 5 cents to do the same with an EV... Yet it’s the overall TCO figures that will drive EV demand: so much so that IDC predicts that over 885,000 plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) will be sold in North America by 2015, with almost 800,000 units being sold in Europe and 2.7 million worldwide within the next four years as well... Jaffe added PEV penetration rates could reach as much as 4% of the global automotive fleet by 2020, but that even within this aggressive scenario, the overall impact on utility revenue and electricity demand will be relatively limited, with PEVs consuming approximately the same amount of electricity as electric clothes dryers do... While IDC’s Jaffe believes there’s plenty of electricity generation capacity to power significant numbers of commercial and consumer EVs and PEVs, the tricky problem will be managing spikes in demand that occur when such vehicles are recharged...


* USA - FCCC unveils all-electric chassis and body package

Dearborn,MICH,USA –Freightliner chassis -Sep 30, 2010: -- Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. has introduced an all-electric walk-in van (WIV) chassis with restyled body from Morgan Olson... First introduced earlier this year, FCCC’s MT-EV WIV is both lightweight and aerodynamic, the company said. FCCC worked with Morgan Olson to create new exterior and interior body styling for the all-electric van to further increase its value to delivery van owners... The new package was introduced this week at the Hybrid Truck Users Forum (HTUF). The interior of the cab features an automotive-style interior, maximizing driver comfort and productivity, the companies said...