Zoomi Life

A few days ago, we brought you news of Vision Motor’s plans to sell their hydrogen fuel-cell big trucks through LA Freightliner. Balqon, the other big player in this electric big trucks game, has now announced that they will be producing an on-road highway-ready version of their trucks as well.

Read More: Balqon Not To Be Left Behind: New Highway-Ready Electric Truck

Back in April, we reported that Vision Industries (Vision Motor Corp) had completed second-stage load testing with their Tyrano trucks for Los Angeles Freightliner. The Tyrano is a hydrogen fuel-cell powered truck whose current incarnation is as a day cab (daily delivery) Class 8 (80,000 GVW) truck. On Monday, Vision announced that they had signed a deal with LA Freightliner to distribute the Tyrano.

Read More: Vision Motors Signs Distribution Agreement With LA Freightliner for Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Trucks

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.

Read More: Big Rigs Going Electric - Freightliner and Balqon

The ZeroTruck by Electrorides has finally entered production with the first unit being sold to the City of Santa Monica in California.

Read More: ZeroTruck Enters Production, First Model Sold to Santa Monica

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.

Read More: Fuel Cell Plug-in Hybrid Heavy-Duty Port Trucks Clear 2nd Stage Performance Testing

Smith Electric Vehicles have come to the U.S. and were featured at The World Truck Show in Chicago. Industry professionals and purchasers got the chance to try the trucks out and several of them agreed to do short video interviews with AutoBlogGreen afterwards.

Read More: VIDEO: Smith Electric Utility Trucks Get Tested in Chicago

Balqon Corporation has begun production of 30-ton all-electric, heavy duty drayage trucks for San Pedro Bay, California’s port complex. The truck, called the Nautilus E30, is a short-haul container mover (commonly called “Goats” or “Hostlers”) capable of moving 30-ton (60,000 pound) cargo containers at speeds up to 40mph with a 30-60 mile range per charge (depending on average haul).

Read More: Balqon Begins Production of New Electric “Goats” (Port Drayage Trucks) For San Pedro Ports

Hino Motors, Ltd., a large-vehicle subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation, will be introducing a hybrid truck in Japan, the USA, and Australia in 2010. These trucks will see about 2.5 times better fuel economy than current, comparable (conventional) models.

Read More: Toyota Making Hybrid Big Rigs in 2010

OK, only half of that is true. This garbage truck in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England has no Flux Capacitor (or 1.21 GIGAWATTS!), but it is powered by garbage. Not directly, of course, but still literally.

Read More: Garbage Truck Powered by Garbage… and Flux Capacitor

ZAP is introducing two new electric vehicle models this year at the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) expo, going on right now in New Orleans. ZAP is introducing a four-wheeled van (which reminds me a lot of a Volkswagen bus) as well as a three-wheeled utility truck.

Read More: ZAP Introduces Electric Van and Truck at NADA Expo