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We’ve talked about electric and hydrogen-powered big trucks before, of course.  There are some updates on what’s happening with the new wave of greener, electric-based trucking now. One goes into production and gets lithium batteries and the other is a new concept based on another design.

Balqon has their electric drayage truck called the Nautilus that is seeing active duty at the San Pedro Ports right now in California.  That truck uses lead acid battery packs.  Now that they’re ready to go to production and start selling these yard hostlers, the company has announced that there will be a lithium-ion battery option for the units.

The new units with lithium batteries began testing in June of this year and have now been approved and are ready for action.  While the lead-based batteries before sported a range of up to 60 miles, these new li-ion packs boost that to 120 miles. Otherwise, the specs have stayed the same with the exception that these batteries are in single packs putting out 300kWh.

The battery packs are still hot-swappable, have fast charging capability, and otherwise perform similarly.

The other news is with Freightliner, one of the largest truck makers in the world.  Not long ago, we talked about their hydrogen fuel-cell trucks that they’ve been experimenting with, both for short and long haul use.

Well, taking that in another direction, Freightliner is also working with pure battery electrics, teaming up with Enova Systems, which builds hybrid and all-electric vehicle systems.  The plans is to make medium, heavy, and large duty (up to Class 7) trucks for the market. These will compete with other electric truck makers like Smith Electric.

Basically, the California company provides the propulsion and Freightliner provides the proven chasis and body.  Enova plans to use both their 90kW and 120kW drive trains and Freightliner plans to offer their MT-45 walk-in box (you’ll see these delivering packages with FedEx and UPS) to begin with.

Other possibles include several models of Freightliner short-haul and delivery boxes, flat beds, and even construction carriers, to name a few. With Freightliner being a Daimler company, it’s possible that Tesla Motors or another company may be the provider of battery packs for these units, though nothing has been said officially.

Because the safety testing can be largely done away with on proven platforms, Freightliner and Enova are optimistic about having trucks on the road as early as next year.

Great news on the heavy hauler front!

Sources: GreenCarCongress, Enova