A pair of Paccar zero-emission trucks — a Kenworth T680 fuel cell electric vehicle and a battery-electric Peterbilt Model 579EV — recently became the first Class 8 zero-emissions vehicles to drive to the 14,115-foot summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado.

Both trucks traversed the 156 twisting turns and switchbacks during the drive, making a 4,700-foot gain in elevation along the way.

“We are very excited about the work Kenworth and Peterbilt have done in the development of zero emissions technology. Conquering Pikes Peak demonstrates Paccar’s leadership in fuel cell and commercial vehicle electrification,” said Kyle Quinn, Paccar’s chief technology officer.

The Kenworth T680 fuel cell electric vehicle offers 470 hp and a 350-mile range with a 15-minute refill time. The Peterbilt Model 579EV has a fully integrated, all-electric powertrain with a range of up to 150 miles, and when used with a DC fast-charger, the battery packs can be recharged in 3-4 hours.  

“It’s a great accomplishment for the Kenworth T680 fuel cell electric vehicle to summit Pikes Peak,” said Kevin Baney, Kenworth general manager and Paccar vice president.

“Being the first battery electric Class 8 truck to climb to the top of Pikes Peak is further validation of all the real-world miles Peterbilt has accumulated across our entire EV test fleet and demonstrates we are ready to deliver production vehicles to our customers next year,” said Jason Skoog, Peterbilt general manager and Paccar vice president.