TransPower and Meritor have announced the completion of two multi-year projects for the development, testing and evaluation of advanced, zero-emission electric yard tractors and Class 8 trucks. Meritor is an investor in TransPower.
The projects were supported by grants from the California Energy Commission under its Alternative and Renewable Fuels and Vehicle Technologies Program, which promotes new vehicle technologies that reduce petroleum consumption and production of harmful vehicle emissions.
The two recently completed projects were initiated simultaneously in mid-2015 following the competitive award of $6 million to TransPower for the purposes of improving and demonstrating its electric vehicle technologies that use permanent magnet motors, large battery packs and advanced controls to power heavy vehicles.
"The projects enabled through these grants met the goals of demonstrating the benefits of adapting electric propulsion technology to large vehicles and stimulating commercial adoption," said Mike Simon, founder and CEO, TransPower.
TransPower developed a new version of its electric yard tractor drive system for heavy-duty yard tractors and improved a variant of its electric drive system used in on-road Class 8 trucks. The electric yard tractors built under the projects are currently operating across California at Dole Fresh Fruit's terminal at the Port of San Diego; the Ikea Distribution Center in Tejon; Grimmway Farms and Harris Ranch in the San Joaquin Valley and Blue Diamond Almonds and Raley's in Sacramento.
The electric tractors have accumulated more than 15,000 hours of in-service use within the past year, demonstrating their ability to handle cargo handling in a variety of duty cycles.
Additionally, two electric trucks are being operated at the Port of San Diego. Building on the successes of these two projects, TransPower has received grants and contracts to convert 100 additional yard tractors and trucks to electric drive for use in California, and is ramping up commercial manufacturing of electric drive kits for installation into yard tractors at assembly lines operated by established yard tractor manufacturers.
Commercial sales of TransPower components are expected to be accelerated by combining these products with Meritor's eAxle, a new propulsion concept integrating the main drive motor into the axle carrier housing. Meritor's strategic investment in TransPower, which was recently increased, is intended to accelerate development and sale of this entire family of electric drive products.
"By continuing to advance electrification technology through this investment, we are positioning Meritor to be a major player in this emerging industry segment," said Chris Villavarayan, senior vice president and president, Global Truck for Meritor. "We believe the solutions we are developing will be preferred by commercial vehicle manufacturers around the world."
