Kenworth, Meritor Collaborate on Electric Truck

Kenworth, the manufacturer of medium- and heavy-duty trucks, and Meritor, a supplier of drivetrain and other components for commercial vehicles, have announced a collaboration on the Class 8 Kenworth T680E battery electric vehicle.

Kenworth and Meritor are collaborating on the development of an electric Class 8 truck that is to go into production later this year. (Image: Kenworth)

This will be a short-hood day cab in configurations including 4 x 2, 6 x 4 axles, as well as a 6 x 4 axle straight truck.

The Kenworth T680E will have an operating range between 100 to 150 miles, depending on the application (e.g., greater loads, reduced range).

Not Very Far

While that range may seem a bit short—after all, in the light-vehicle segment, OEMs offering electric vehicles with anything less than a 200-mile range are finding themselves with lots of inventory on dealer lots—commercial carriers know range requirements for their vehicle, probably down to the foot.

Kevin Baney, Kenworth general manager and PACCAR vice president, said of this undertaking, “The Kenworth T680E development in collaboration with Meritor is a major advanced technology step in Kenworth’s evolution of zero-emission electric powertrain solutions for our customers.”

And this isn’t something that is going to become available at sometime in the distant future.

Baney: “Initial production of the Kenworth T680E is expected to begin in the fourth quarter 2020 and ramp through 2021.”

What Does This Mean?

If you’re interested in the rise of electric mobility, keep an eye on the commercial space. Commercial vehicle purchasers are nothing if not pragmatic, and so they’re going to be pushing for improvement in everything from batteries to motors.