Cummins Unveils Electric Heavy-Duty Truck

Cummins Inc. took the wraps off an all-electric heavy-duty concept truck this week at the company’s technical center in Columbus, Ind.

Dubbed the Aeos—after the four-winged horse that pulled the chariot of the sun god in Greek mythology—the Class 7 tractor features a 140-kWh battery pack that provides an estimated 100-mile city driving range. Cummins claims the battery pack is lighter and denser than current EV systems.

The battery can be fully recharged in one hour, a time that Cummins plans to cut to 20 minutes by 2020. An add-on engine-generator unit can extend the vehicle’s range to as much as 300 miles, while consuming half the fuel of today’s diesel-electric hybrid trucks.

 The 18,000-lb truck, built by Roush Enterprises Inc., is designed to be used for local deliveries. It has a maximum payload of 44,000 lbs., providing about the same power as a 12-liter diesel engine. Cummins says the weight of the electric system is about the same as a conventional engine, transmission, fuel tank and emissions treatment devices.

Future enhancements under consideration include roof-mounted solar panels to boost battery performance and replacing side rearview mirrors with rear-facing cameras to improve aerodynamics. The concept already benefits from a sleek, streamlined design, improved underbody sealing and the elimination of the radiator.

No timeframe was given for launching an electric truck for commercial applications. But in June Cummins said that it planned to offer electrified powertrains, including hybrid and/or fully electric models, in 2019.