Truck & Bus Builder

This month we look at the new product developed for the Japanese market by specialist electronic warning and safety device manufacturer Brigade. T&BB interviewed Henry Morgan, sales development manager at Brigade to better understand the regulatory climate, the product development process and the strategy behind entering this new market. Essentially the new product is a fusion of the Backeye 360 AI camera system and Radar Predict, into “Radar Predict PLUS”. The result is a new bespoke commercial vehicle safety product for the Japanese market. Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/eS-yaP5D

At the recent IAA, we spoke to Cummins Inc. about its zero-emission Accelera business - i.e., "all the electric stuff". Cummins envisages that, eventually, the "electric stuff" will become the core of its business - though that might still be a while off from now. Read the article at Truck & Bus Builder: https://lnkd.in/emWSc7DA

This month we take a deep dive into the unique electric drivetrain jointly developed by electric propulsion systems supplier BAE Systems and transmissions specialist Eaton. Initially announced at the 2023 ACT Expo / ACT News in Anaheim, California, T&BB has been keeping close tabs on this partnership as the companies co-develop modular, scalable electric drivetrain solutions for the medium and heavy-duty commercial truck market. The following year at the 2024 ACT Expo / ACT News show in Las Vegas, the integrated electric drive system was on display having successfully been tested on a Class 7 demonstration vehicle (a 2018 Freightliner M2 Class 7 chassis retrofitted with the electric motor, inverters and transmission) at Eaton’s proving grounds in Marshall, Michigan in June 2024. T&BB interviewed senior members involved in the project at BAE Systems to discuss the strategy behind the collaboration, the benefits of the system, the truck demonstrator test results, future plans and the market for integrated e-drive and transmission solutions. Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/eBjWH-Tz

We got the chance to speak at length with ZF Group's Prof Dr Peter Laier at the IAA. Among other things, we asked him what he thought Europe could learn from China's approach to electrification. Read his answer in our article at Truck & Bus Builder: https://lnkd.in/eQSpaw4D

Another summer trip: this one to Cummins Inc. Darlington, where we visited a new R&D facility for whole vehicle testing. The test facility was designed with hydrogen in mind, incorporating safety features to protect staff in the event of an explosion. During the trip, Cummins execs also discussed the upcoming Euro 7 legislation with the press; the highlights are presented in the report. Read the full report for free at Truck & Bus Builder: https://lnkd.in/egf7ekMu

We are still making our way through all the announcements coming out of the 2024 IAA Transportation event held in Hanover last month. Italian powertrain manufacturer FPT Industrial had a strong presence at the show launching a raft of new products including a new diesel engine (F1C Diesel) and an electric axle (eAX 200-R). This is all part of the company’s dual-track strategy, investing in both ICE (developing more sustainable ICE engines) as well as battery-electric zero-emission powertrains (e-propulsion and battery storage solutions) for the electric CV market. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/ezTCgHG2

In China, the term "new energy" is attached to vehicles which derive their energy, in full or in part, from a source other than fossil fuels. In hanzi, the character for "new" (新) is added to the compound "ability source" (能源), which is equivalent to the English "energy source" or "power source". In standard Mandarin, it is pronounced "xīnnénglì". (Approx. pronunciation: "sheen" with high tone, "nerng" with rising tone, "lee" with falling tone.) Though typically referring to electric vehicles, the definition of "new energy" is broader than the contested term, "zero emission".

A report from one of our summer trips: this one to Renault Trucks in Lyon, where we attended the 'Electromobility Days' event at the manufacturer's headquarters. Over the past four years, the French truck maker has launched multiple electric vehicles, from LCVs to heavy-duty haulers. Now, the company is focusing on educating its customers and providing them with tools to get the most out of their EVs. The company also used the event to announce a 600km electric truck, to be launched in 2026. Read the full article for free at Truck & Bus Builder: https://lnkd.in/ekzs2y_C

T&BB's Luke is out in Málaga, Spain for a ride and drive event with DAF Trucks NV's latest generation of trucks. Málaga is a tourist hotspot on the Costa del Sol close to the famous Caminito del Rey - though we're assured that Luke is out there to do some work also!!

T&BB was in attendance for the 2024 Cenex Expo (September 4- 5 at the UTAC Millbrook proving ground in Northamptonshire, UK), which managed to attract over 4000 visitors and over 220 exhibitors. Cenex is the UK’s premier event for the future of mobility, combining insights from the Low Carbon Vehicle (LCV) and Connected Automated Mobility (CAM) sectors. The event focused on the supply chain, technology, and market developments in the push towards Net Zero and connected autonomous vehicles. Key highlights included extensive seminars covering electrification and alternative fuels (including hydrogen), product launches and government and industry collaboration. Read the full report: here: https://lnkd.in/e7yrJGET