Class 8 electric trucks

Want a Volvo electric truck? Go for Gold or go away

Volvo VNR Electric truck at sunset

DUBLIN, Va. — Like a parent walking a young child across the street, Volvo Trucks North America is holding its customers’ hands when it comes to Class 8 electric trucks — whether they like it or not.

VTNA is the early leader among OEMs selling electric trucks in the U.S. It holds more than 60% of the nascent market compared to about an 11% total American market share. 

Over time, Volvo’s dominance likely will shrink. Especially when U.S. market leader Daimler Truck North America begins regular...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/want-a-volvo-electric-truck-go-for-gold-or-go-away

Truck Tech: Daum straight edition

Martin Daum rarely equivocates. The CEO of Daimler Truck sets courses the trucking industry often follows. If you ask him a question, expect a straight answer. We did. And so did he.

When Martin Daum talks …

Martin Daum is one of those people for whom a paraphrase of the famous line from the 1970s TV commercials by investment bank EF Hutton applies. When the CEO of Daimler Truck talks, the global trucking industry listens.

Martin Daum is the influential voice and CEO of Daimler Truck. (Photo: Alan...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/truck-tech-daum-straight-edition

Truck Tech: Rush hour edition

Truck Tech logo on blue background

Rusty Rush not only operates more truck dealerships than anyone on the planet, he also knows technology. And he has opinions on just about everything. So, buckle up. It’s Rush hour. 

Also this week, TuSimple and Plus have rumored suitors, and Nikola is going to the ATM but not the one at the bank on the corner.

The world according to Rusty Rush

Rusty Rush, president, chairman and CEO of Rush Enterprises, is one of those people you could listen to all day. His down-home Texas twang and affable...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/truck-tech-rush-hour-edition

Tesla Semi appears closer to production with release of new details

The oft-delayed Tesla Semi electric truck appears closer to Elon Musk’s latest prediction of shipping before the end of the year. New details on Tesla’s website shows a production-intent  model. But lots of questions remain.

The Tesla website contains three new video clips and photos of the second-generation prototype. This follows Musk’s Aug. 10 tweet: “500 mile range Semi Truck starts shipping this year.” Musk last predicted the truck for late 2023.

The updated website does not address...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/tesla-semi-appears-closer-to-production-with-release-of-new-details

Pilot and GM plan coast-to-coast EV fast-charging network

White GMC Hummer in front of Pilot truck stop

Pilot Co. will install 2,000 electric fast chargers at 500 of its U.S. truck stops over the next few years, creating a coast-to-coast network in partnership with General Motors.

Startup EVgo (NASDAQ: EVGO) will install, operate and maintain the chargers. The chargers are branded as part of GM’s Ultium Charge 360 network. Chargers will begin appearing at U.S. Pilot and Flying J service plazas in early 2023. The majority of the 500 installations will be in place by 2025, Cathy Zoi, EVgo CEO, said...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/pilot-and-gm-plan-coast-to-coast-ev-fast-charging-network

Truck Tech: ArcLight’s next act edition

Blue Truck Tech logo

Don’t tell ArcLight Capital Partners that clean energy transport companies are out of favor. The SPAC sponsor of electric bus and charging infrastructure developer Proterra is investing $50 million in electric trucks as a service near Los Angeles International Airport while preparing for a shareholder vote next week on taking renewable natural gas developer Opal Fuels public.

Investing after SPACs

With one SPAC complete and another up for shareholder vote next week, ArcLight Capital Partners is...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/truck-tech-arclights-next-act-edition

Nikola investors balk at raising share count

Nikola headquarters in Phoenix with palm trees in front

Nikola Corp. shareholders voted with their feet in at least temporarily turning aside the electric truck manufacturer’s proposal to increase its authorized shares. If the measure ultimately fails, the startup’s ability to borrow in the future could be hampered.

A shortfall in shareholder proxy votes for the proposal led Nikola to suspend its annual meeting until June 30. 

Nikola asked its owners to authorize an increase in authorized shares from 600 million to 800 million. The shares would not be...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/nikola-investors-balk-at-raising-share-count

Xos evolves into full-fledged electric truck manufacturer

Black Xos Class 8 semi facing camera

Startup Xos Trucks revealed purpose-built electric trucks, moving from a powertrain components integrator closer to a full-fledged original equipment manufacturer offering  end-to-end services to fleets.

Distinctive Xos styling

Xos showed two purpose-built chassis cabs Tuesday night in Los Angeles. Each bears looks distinctive to the 7-year-old company.

The Xos MDXT is a Class 6 or 7 medium-duty electric chassis cab. It can travel up to 270 miles on a single charge. It offers a maximum 16,000...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/xos-evolves-into-electric-truck-manufacturer

Truck Tech: Desert bloom edition

Nikola is far from the only zero-emissions transportation startup to call Arizona home. It is helping lure neighbors to the desert. Meanwhile, in the Midwest, trailer maker Wabash sees potential in making its thermally efficient bodies for electric work trucks.

An electric desert storm

Nikola invited about 200 people to a launch event this week at its new but still under construction electric truck assembly plant in the Arizona desert. Besides showing the first of its regular production...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/truck-tech-desert-bloom-edition

Nikola projects production of 300-500 battery-electric trucks in 2022

Nikola Corp. plans to build 300 to 500 battery-electric Class 8 trucks this year and record up to $150 million in revenue. It expects to be profitable on a gross margin basis in 2023.

After months of negative stories centering on the alleged misdeeds of Trevor Milton, the company’s founder and former executive chairman, the Phoenix-based company is finally able to focus on producing advanced technology trucks. 

Nikola has contracts, letters of intent and memorandums of understanding for 1,385...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/nikola-projects-production-of-300-500-battery-electric-trucks-in-2022

+ More