Electric trucks

Of floor mops, M&M coatings … and battery packs 

What do coatings for M&M chocolate candies, O-Cedar floor mops and battery packs for electric trucks have in common?

All three come from German industrial conglomerate Freudenberg Group. The company operates many other seemingly incongruous businesses from filtration to home cleaning products.

A history of handoffs

Freudenberg’s battery business is an appropriate Truck Tech topic. But not as tasty than M&Ms, for which it makes the hard shell coatings through its Capol business unit. 

The...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/of-floor-mops-mm-coatings-and-battery-packs

How a moonshot is giving voice to truck parcels

Smart labels are one of those buzzy technology terms that have a lot of meanings. The ones logistics giant Kuehne+Nagel are rolling out with Chorus — one of Alphabet’s X moonshot factory entities — address questions some might not even think to ask.

More than RFID

It’s one thing to know through a radio frequency ID tag – wireless communication incorporating electromagnetic or electrostatic coupling – where a particular parcel is located and maybe even some details about its condition. But Swiss...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/how-a-moonshot-is-giving-voice-to-truck-parcels

4-state coalition gets nearly $250M for I-95 electric truck chargers

The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded nearly $250 million for a multistate project to add electric truck chargers along an East Coast freight corridor.

The EPA awarded the funds to the Clean Corridor Coalition, a group consisting of environmental and transportation leaders in New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware and Maryland. The coalition will use the grant to fund a regional charging network for electric medium- and heavy-duty trucks along Interstate 95. The interstate was also...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/4-state-coalition-gets-nearly-250m-for-i-95-electric-truck-chargers

Behind Climate United’s historic $250M electric truck buy

Climate United’s plan to spend $250 million to purchase 500 Class 8 electric trucks makes a great headline. But beyond the benefit to owner-operators and small fleets, the impact involves the future of zero-tailpipe-emission freight hauling.

More than cleaning up the ports

Climate United is stewarding a $6.97 billion grant of Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funds awarded by the Environmental Protection Agency. The immediate goal is to help clean up the nation’s ports, where older and dirtier trucks...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/behind-climate-uniteds-historic-250m-electric-truck-buy

Electrifying in-bound logistics continues to expand globally

Volvo Trucks North America started using zero-emission electric trucks for in-bound logistics in 2021. It told fleets that to qualify to bring parts to Volvo plants, they would need VNR Electric trucks.

Freight forwarders complied. Watsontown Trucking Co. and Camrett Logistics ordered Class 8 VNR Electric trucks in October 2021. They began round trips to NRV in December of that year. Ryder System Inc. likewise leased seven VNR Electric trucks to transport pallets of components for heavy-duty...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/electrifying-in-bound-logistics-continues-to-expand-globally

It’s all in the numbers for Nikola

Three numbers tell the desperate state of fuel cell truck maker and hydrogen fuel provider Nikola. Dozens of others apply, but these three suggest the clock is ticking faster on whether the company can survive.

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By the numbers …

Nikola’s notable numbers: 135, 29.07% and 88.

135

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/its-all-in-the-numbers-for-nikola

Charli brings turnkey solution to EV charging

Electric vehicle charging provider Charli Charging recently launched its next-generation platform, Charli 2.0. The platform is designed to address common frustrations faced by EV owners and fleet managers, including unreliable or inaccessible chargers and poor user experience. With a new tech stack, Charlie 2.0 aims to simplify EV charging for the growing number of electric vehicle investors across America.

Founded in 2019, Charli Charging emerged from the desire to make EV charging as simple as...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/charli-brings-turnkey-solution-to-ev-charging

How zero-emissions trucks are the key for sustainable supply chains

The conversation around sustainability in the transportation sector is no longer just about reducing emissions — it’s about rethinking the way we transport goods altogether. Across the industry, from manufacturers to fleet operators, there’s growing recognition that a cleaner, more sustainable future requires bold changes. Zero-emission trucks, powered by hydrogen fuel cells and battery-electric technology, are playing a pivotal role in this transformation. 

The U.S. is one of the largest carbon...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/how-zero-emissions-trucks-are-the-key-for-sustainable-supply-chains

What does proposed China component ban mean for autonomous trucks?

Autonomous trucking developers knew the Commerce Department was on the cusp of slamming the door on certain Chinese components. In fact, this week’s preliminary rule came later than expected. Now they have to sort out what it means.

So far, they don’t have much to say. Of the leading driverless trucking companies – two of which could launch before the end of the year – only one, Plus, offered substantive comment. Others demurred or pointed to a less-than-substantive statement from the Autonomous...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/what-does-proposed-china-component-ban-mean-for-autonomous-trucks

AJ Savas shares experience going from diesel to electric

This fireside chat recap is from FreightWaves’ Net-Zero Carbon Summit on Wednesday.

FIRESIDE CHAT TOPIC: What driving an alternative fuel vehicle is actually like.

DETAILS: Truck driver AJ Savas started with a diesel truck and now drives electric trucks powered by Einride’s intelligent freight operation platform at Oatly. The Utah-based driver shares the experience of driving an alternative fuel vehicle with FreightWaves reporter Kaylee Nix.

KEY QUOTES FROM AJ SAVAS:

“[Oatly] did bring me off of...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/aj-savas-shares-experience-going-from-diesel-to-electric

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