Truck Tech
After ELMS bankruptcy, James Taylor resurfaces as CEO of Bollinger Motors
James Taylor, the former CEO of Electric Last Mile Solutions, kept a low profile following the bankruptcy sale of the company’s assets to Mullen Automotive. This week, he resurfaced as CEO of Mullen-controlled Bollinger Motors, a maker of electric trucks.
Was...
Hyzon focuses on US fuel cell market for survival
In its brief four-year history, Hyzon Motors has experienced far more stormy than sunny days. As it struggles to survive, the commercial fuel cell manufacturer is focusing on the U.S., where it sees hydrogen and zero-emission refuse trucks worth pursuing.
Chasing the SPAC moneyA spinoff of Singapore-based Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies, Hyzon went public in July 2021 in a reverse merger with special purpose acquisition company Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corp. It received $550 million in...
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/hyzon-focuses-on-us-fuel-cell-market-for-survival
Dueling approaches to AI in autonomous trucking
Autonomous trucking pioneer Chris Urmson and relative latecomer Raquel Urtasun see AI as critical to making autonomous trucking successful. But they do not see eye to eye on the best way to apply it.
Urmson led Google’s Self Driving Car Project that eventually became Waymo. He co-founded Aurora Innovation in 2017.
When Uber sold its Advanced Technologies Group to Aurora in January 2021, Urtasun was Uber ATG chief scientist and head of research and development. She and Urmson know each other’s...
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/dueling-approaches-to-ai-in-autonomous-trucking
Can wireless EV charging become an infrastructure player?
Wireless charging of electric vehicles — literally parking a vehicle over a concrete-embedded charging plate and magnetically connecting to a vehicle — is a niche mostly restricted to transit buses and yard tractors that pull containers around a distribution yard.
But as the rollout of plug-in charging is slowed by infrastructure buildout and lack of timely energizing, the underground solution also known as inductive charging could expand to other uses.
Expensive approach with a swift payback“We...
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/can-wireless-ev-charging-become-an-infrastructure-player
Sitetracker: Speeding electric truck charging behind the scenes
Announcements of new charging depots for electric trucks seem to come almost weekly. Some are more promises than ready-to-go power. Sitetracker, a SaaS business rooted in telecommunications, is providing a cloud-based backbone to move things along.
Sitetracker has been around since 2008. In four rounds of fundraising, it has brought in $183 million, including $66 million in a Series D round in 2022. The Montclair, New Jersey-based company has doubled its head count while seizing opportunities in...
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/sitetracker-speeding-electric-truck-charging-behind-the-scenes
‘Picky’ Gatik nearing mass-produced autonomous trucks
The struggles of autonomous truck makers to move beyond the testing stage are well chronicled. Seven-year-old Gatik, which owns the short-haul pickup-and-delivery “middle mile,” is an exception. By all indications, it has the money, the partnerships and the runway to reach mass production in 2027.
After discussing Gatik’s technology progress with Apeksha Kumavat, co-founder and chief engineer, on this week’s Truck Tech podcast, I caught up with CEO Gautam Narang. That followed Monday’s...
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/picky-gatik-nearing-mass-produced-autonomous-trucks
Nikola stats show H2-powered trucking is for real
Nikola has delivered 75 hydrogen-powered fuel cell trucks to customers. It has an order bank that should begin to produce meaningful revenue. Now it is producing statistical evidence that hydrogen-powered trucking is not just for show.
At two industry conferences this week and in data shared first with Truck Tech, Nikola revealed it has:
- Completed 1,666 hydrogen fill-ups at three mobile refuelers in Coolidge, Arizona, as well as Ontario and Long Beach, California.
- Dispensed 60.54 tons of...
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/nikola-stats-show-h2-powered-trucking-is-for-real
Workhorse on the bubble, or is it worse?
Less than three months after my generally upbeat visit to Workhorse Group’s refurbished plant near the Ohio-Indiana border, the electric truck maker’s situation appears dire.
Layoffs and furloughsWorkhorse has laid off 20% of its workforce. Much of the rest is on unpaid furlough and could be called back to work.
The company is choked with inventory. It has less than $7 million in cash on the books and accounts payable for more than twice that amount. At a projected burn rate less than Q1’s $5.5...
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/workhorse-on-the-bubble-or-is-it-worse
Tesla to trucking industry: Step up your electric game
LAS VEGAS — The Advanced Clean Truck Expo is a come-all event. Until this year, Tesla has passed on attending.
The ACT Expo has outgrown the art deco charm of Long Beach and the “Disney-fied” atmosphere of Anaheim, California. This year, it moved to convention mecca with exhibitors filling the North Hall of the sprawling Las Vegas Convention Center. It returns to Anaheim in 2025, occupying both halls of the convention center in 2025.
Dozens of battery electric, fuel-cell electric and alternative...
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/tesla-to-trucking-industry-step-up-your-electric-game