US startup and manufacturer of electric trucks Thor Trucks has been named the winner of the annual Top Ten Automotive Startups Competition. This competition is organised annually by the organisers of the Los Angeles Auto Show and AutoMobility LA trade shows. As the winner of the competition, Thor Trucks will receive a cash prize of $15,000.
Electric powertrains are an interesting option for commercial vehicles that offer several advantages. For instance, Thor Trucks points out that the full power of its vehicles is instantly available from 0 rpm, allowing drivers to make use of this power at any time. In addition, the electric motor emits no particulates and CO2, making the electric drive more environmentally friendly than traditional drives. This makes the vehicles an interesting option for use in environments with extra high air quality requirements, such as inner cities of large cities.
Electric commercial fleet achievement
Thor Trucks is a startup from US-based Los Angeles that describes itself as a "transport lab making an electric commercial fleet a reality". "Although commercial diesel vehicles account for only 7% of all vehicles on the road, they are responsible for nearly 18% of emissions. Commercial vehicles pollute the air in the local communications where we and our families live, work and play every day. We believe it is time to change this," writes the startup.
Thor Trucks is working on two electric vehicles: a truck called 'ET-One' with a maximum towing weight of around 35 tonnes and a medium-sized electric van called 'Thor Medium Duty' intended for transport in urban environments, among others. The latter vehicle is being developed and tested by the startup in collaboration with transport company UPS.
ET-One
ET-One is an electric tractor available with power ratings from 300 to 700 HP. Depending on the battery pack and electric motor chosen, the vehicle offers a range of up to 300 miles, or about 480 kilometres in conversion. The lithium-ion batteries used are specifically developed for commercial applications and, among other things, capable of going through significantly more charging cycles than batteries for consumer vehicles. The batteries can be fully charged in 90 minutes. In addition, the batteries are recharged during driving using energy generated during braking.
Because the ET-One is electrically powered, the electric truck allows companies to reduce their fleet operational costs. For example, Thor Trucks claims that vehicle maintenance per kilometre is 60% lower than traditional vehicles, while fuel costs per kilometre are 70% lower. The ET-One is available at $150,000 to $250,000, depending on the configuration chosen. Thor Trucks will also offer the ET-One through lease contracts.
Thor Medium Duty
In addition to the ET-One, Thor Trucks is collaborating with UPS on the Thor Medium Duty. This vehicle is specifically aimed at transportation on the 'last mile'. Think of transporting goods from a distribution centre to end customers or delivering goods to a shop in a city centre. Like the ET-One, the Thor Medium Duty is fully electric powered. The vehicle is expected to offer a range of 100 miles, or about 160 kilometres in conversion.
UPS is currently testing the Thor Medium Duty in the Los Angeles area, with the vehicle incorporated into the company's regular fleet. The focus is on its durability, battery capacity, technical integration into UPS's existing fleet and the vehicle's technical design. If these trials are successfully completed, UPS plans to eventually start using more examples of the Thor Medium Duty.
'Performance is critical in our fleet'
"UPS believes in the future of commercial electric vehicles. We want to support the research needed to make developments and the companies making these innovative products," explained Carlton Rose, global fleet maintenance and engineering at UPS. "Performance is critical in our fleet. We are excited to put that vehicle on the road and test how it performs on routes in and around Los Angeles."
Both the ET-One and Thor Medium Duty are currently still in development. It is not known when the vehicles will be launched on the market.
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
Source: Los Angeles Auto Show and AutoMobility
Source: Thor Trucks
Source: UPS (pictured)
