Hyliion has announced the acquisition of Gentherm’s battery division. the company made the move as a way to drive growth and innovation into its intelligent hybrid electric technology it says can transform any Class 8 truck into a diesel hybrid electric-powered vehicle, according to spokesmen. Gentherm’s team of battery experts will be joining Hyliion as well.

The Gentherm battery system was already a critical component of Hyliion’s 6x4HE solution.

“Batteries are a critical component of any hybrid vehicle. The acquisition provides us with control over the complete battery management supply chain from manufacturing and packaging to software development,” said Thomas Healy, founder and CEO of Hyliion. “This is a huge strategic advantage for us.”

Hyliion also announced a strategic partnership with Toshiba. Hyliion will act as Toshiba’s preferred packaging and cooling partner in the U.S. Hyliion also announced a new collaboration with auto industry giant Dana, which offers proprietary cooling technology to improve the thermal management of Hyliion battery systems.

“By cost effectively transforming any semi-truck into a hybrid electric, Hyliion is providing the trucking industry a unique opportunity to capitalize on the vehicle electrification trend," said Darel Reed, National Sales Manager at Toshiba. 

Hyliion's 6x4HE electrification system is designed to capture wasted energy when traveling downhill and apply that power when traveling uphill to keep the engine in its most efficient operating range. Hyliion's hybrid electrification system can deliver fuel savings of up to 30%, reduced emissions, and instant telematics, according to the company. The system is designed for easy installation and can be implemented onto new trucks or retrofitted onto any Class 8 vehicle. The company expects its recent acquisition and strategic partnerships to allow Hyliion to take their hybrid solution a step further.

“The path to fully electrified long-haul fleets has many challenges. Long haul semi-trucks average 600 miles a day. Electric semi-trucks, including Tesla’s, are restricted by 300 to 500 miles on a single charge,” said Healy. “Unless we re-grid the entire country to accommodate power consumption with grids as large as entire cities, a hybrid solution is the only answer that makes sense for long hauls.”

“We’re thrilled to welcome our new battery team to Hyliion. The battery technology they created is stellar and gives us a clear strategic advantage," added Healy.

Related: Electric Axle Offers Fuel Savings for Long-Haul Operations