The Lion Electric Co. showed off its first all-electric Class 8 urban truck at the American Trucking Associations' Technology and Maintenance Council Annual Meeting in Atlanta on March 19, saying it will be commercialized this fall.

“Electric trucks have come a long way in a very short time," said Marc Bedard, president and founder of the Saint-Jérôme, Quebec-based company. “Four years ago, I remember speaking to people just trying to convince them that electric trucks were even possible in real-world applications. And today, we are talking about electric trucks as viable business models in their own right.” 

The Lion8 is designed, created, and manufactured to be electric and has a range of up to 250 miles on a single charge. The elimination of noise pollution, optimization of visibility, and unparalleled turning radius make the Lion8's driving experience safe and enjoyable, said the company.

“Class 8 trucks are a huge market in North America,” Bedard said. “And between 40% and 45% of those trucks are used on routes averaging less than 250 miles. So the decision for us to launch an all-electric truck with 250-mile range to meet box van, refuse and other common vocational applications was a natural one for us.”

The company said the truck offers the following benefits:

• No greenhouse gas emissions

• No noise pollution

• 80% energy cost reduction

• 60% operational cost reduction; Lion8 components require very little maintenance and further minimize its total cost of ownership

• Lowest total cost of ownership

• Oil-free operation, with very few moving parts, and brakes that last longer thanks to a regenerative braking system

• Custom-built to withstand North American weather and road conditions

Lion Electric said it already has orders and committed buyers. The first truck will be delivered to SAQ, a Quebec-based liquor retailer.