Looking Back at ‘17: Electrification, Autonomous Technologies in the Works
In 2017, we reported on a number of products and technologies that we'll likely be seeing on the road in 2019 or later. HDT's Deborah Lockridge highlights some of these announcements in the areas of electrification and autonomous technologies in her All That's Trucking blog.
When we go through the process of choosing our annual Top 20 products, we try to focus on those that are commercially available or reasonably expected to be available in the coming year. This year, we reported on a lot of neat up-and-coming products that may not be out till 2019 or later, as well as some concept products and technology under development.
As we look back at 2017, two areas really stand out here: electrification and the development of technologies that could lead to autonomous driving systems. Here are some highlights, in no particular order:
Ad Loading...
Electrification
The electrification of trucking was big news this year. For instance, Daimler’s Fuso eCanter medium-duty is already in production, and newcomer Chanje Energy unveiled a large electric cargo van. Heavier-duty trucks are in the works:
Tesla Semi: In one of the most anticipated announcements of the year, Tesla chief Elon Musk unveiled his all-electric Semi to a mob of fans and journalists. Although it isn’t expected to be in production until 2019, it already has drawn pre-orders from the likes of UPS, Anheuser-Busch, and Walmart. Read more.
Cummins electric truck: Cummins stole a bit of Tesla’s thunder when it unveiled a concept all-electric day cab, a demonstration vehicle dubbed the Urban Hauler EV. The truck reportedly is intended for urban delivery, port drayage, terminal hauling, and similar applications. Read more.
Toyota Project Portal: Toyota’s Project Portal is a test of a “proof of concept” Class 8 hydrogen fuel cell truck in real-world use in Southern California. The goal is to determine the feasibility of fuel cell technology for heavy-duty trucks, specifically in drayage operations. Read more.
Meritor electrification: Meritor announced that it is developing a platform of electric drive axles and suspensions as well as supporting systems “to position Meritor as a leader in electric solutions for the commercial vehicle market.” Read more.
Ad Loading...
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems
There are a raft of companies testing various types of autonomous truck technologies, among them Uber, Embark, tuSimple, and Tesla. But the following three systems from established commercial vehicle suppliers are ones that could make life easier and safer for drivers today but also can be the building block of autonomous driving technology.
Eaton Dock Assist: Developers at Eaton’s Intelligent Vehicle Group think trucks could be auto-guided right to their pick-up and delivery points. Part of that is backing up to a loading dock, and they’ve got a demo tractor that can do it. Dock Assist uses GPS locating with sensors on the tractor and a transmitter on the dock that tell on-board controls where to drive the truck. Read more.
Wabco OnLaneAssist: Wabco’s OnLaneAssist is an advanced driver assistance system designed to prevent unintended lane departures and offer active steering. When it detects lane drifting, the system autonomously intervenes before the vehicle leaves the lane by applying correction torque to the steering wheel to return the vehicle to the center of a lane. Wabco expects it to be in the market by the end of the decade. Read more.
ZF Reax: Reax is an active steering system that monitors how the truck is being steered and augments power steering pump output based on actual driver needs. In low-speed situations, Reax lightens up steering resistance to help drivers quickly act and react when maneuvering, backing or docking. At highway speeds, the system tightens up steering resistance to give a driver better feel and precision control in holding a lane. Read more.
TaaS. Does that mean trucks as a service, trailers as a service, or tires as a service? HDT's Deborah Lockridge has another takeaway from the Technology & Maintenance Council meeting in her blog.
HDT Editor and Associate Publisher Deborah Lockridge is a longtime Girl Scout leader and loves to connect her passion for inspiring girls with her love of the trucking industry.
No matter who wins the election, trucking continues to work to educate the people who pass the laws and make the rules that affect the industry. HDT's Deborah Lockridge shares insights from two major trucking associations in her All That's Trucking blog.
Skimping on vacation may be the worst thing you can do for your business, your career, and your mental health. In her All That's Trucking blog, Deborah Lockridge writes about the importance of giving your brain what it needs to be innovative.
Read Deborah Lockridge's picks for the most significant stories we covered at HDT in 2023: freight recession, zero-emission trucks, drivers and marijuana, and more.
HDT's Deborah Lockridge talks about key themes that emerged during sessions, conversations, and on the show floor during the American Trucking Associations' annual management conference.
In her All That's Trucking blog, Deborah Lockridge shares a follow-up to last year's story about a FedEx Ground contractor who was very publicly challenging the company about alleged unfair treatment of its contractors.
Curiosity about how Girl Scout cookies get from the factory to the customer drove the development of a supply patch program. HDT's Deborah Lockridge, a Girl Scout herself, writes about it in her All That's Trucking blog.
