Zoomi Life

Vision Industries prototype plug-in electric/hydrogen fuel-cell Class 8 Tyrano truck has completed the second stage of its performance tests.  The testing, conducted at the Los Angeles Freightliner facilities in Whittier, California, was for payload and speed evaluations.

COO of Vision Industries, Lawrence Weisdorn, says the trucks performed above expectations and their drive trains are more powerful than required for class 8 heavy duty truck requirements (80,000 pound gross vehicle weight–vehicle plus payload).  In fact, engineers have to electronically limit the torque to “only” 1,800 foot pounds.  The trucks are already limited to 70mph.

The trucks have other advantages besides being more powerful and efficient than current diesel and natural gas models of short-haul rigs.  One of the big ones being the exemption they’ll receive from the $70 per container port tariff to offset emissions.

The Tyrano carries 33kg of compressed hydrogen and has a range of about 340 miles on that.  The drive system delivers 402hp (300kW) and 3,200 lb-ft of torque. This ties in nicely with the Balqon hostler trucks for the ports we mentioned last month.

Here’s some video of the Tyrano in action:

Sources: 1, 2