Last year, Kenworth introduced the T880E, the industry’s first Class 8 battery-electric truck built for vocational applications.

The T880e was part of a vocational truck showcase in August, which also featured the T880 and the new C580. We talked to Director of Marketing Kyle Kimball for an update on the T880e.

The T880E offers different battery-string options, allowing a customizable range from 100 to 250-plus miles. The one on the track at the Paccar Technical Center, a straight truck configuration outfitted with a flatbed body, was a four-string battery pack. Kimball noted the truck is also available in a five-string battery configuration for up to 250 miles of range.

“That really does hit that vocational application,” he said. “Those inter-urban or vocational delivery applications like roofing or construction materials is a great application. And with a battery-electric powertrain, you can hit zero-emission targets.”

Customer Reaction to the T880e Electric Vocational Truck

With a change in the regulatory and incentives environment for zero-emission vehicles, what has been the customer reaction so far?

Kimball said customers have been looking at it for a lot of municipal applications, a lot of contract bids, or companies that are working for government or municipal fleets, state jobs, and construction applications.

One benefit of the T880e, he said, is that the truck is the same as the T880, “a true vocational truck with the powertrain swapped out. So because it does everything a T880 does, it's great for those those type of construction environments.”

It is available in both set-back front axle and set-forward front axle configurations with the same multi-piece hood construction as its T880 combustion counterpart.

Why Paccar's ePowertrain Works for Vocational Trucks

The Paccar-developed ePowertrain platform is a fully integrated powertrain system that delivers between 365 and 470 hp continuous power and up to 605 hp peak with 1850 lb-ft of torque.

It’s especially well-suited to vocational applications because unlike an e-axle approach, the central drive e-motor allows for wheelbase flexibility and lift axle installations.

“The big change between our older battery electric models and this one is our charge architecture,” said Vocational Marketing Manager Alex Reid.

The T880E uses a CCSI DC charge port.

“This will now charge it up to 350 kilowatts, which really cuts your charge time, especially for those large pack sizes, down to two hours there for your 625 kilowatt hour, which is the five string.”

Upfitting the T880e

The T880e is offered in both tractor and straight truck configurations, and one thing that does differ is adding bodies to straight truck applications such as dump trucks or flatbeds where a body has to be added.

“There are some special considerations that the body upfitters have to take when it comes to packaging the body,” Kimball explained. Kenworth works closely with body upfitters to identify their needs.

“Obviously there's some considerations on the body side for space,” depending on how many battery packs are spec’ed.

The other difference is the power take-off.

“We offer a mechanical PTO so it’s what they're used to, or we also do a high-voltage junction box so they can actually connect to the high-voltage system and directly run through an electric PTO that way.”