Balqon Electric Trucks High Torque plus 150 Mile Range
Balqon has in turn built a plant in Harbor City, CA, to produce these big EVs
that can handle the workload while lowering pollution and maintenance costs. The only downside is the higher upfront cost of the trucks. Those costs can come back in much lower operating and fuel costs however.
The trucks come in 3 models. The specifications for Balqon Nautilus E20, Nautilus E30, and Mule 150 show that the trucks can match many diesel rigs for drayage and other local hauling chores.
The Balqon technical team has developed an advanced battery management system (BMS) for the Li-Ion battery packs in its rigs. The system contains temperature sensors and proprietary charging software linked to charging board modules.
More basically, the trucks feature a 15 kW charger that can be plugged in anywhere. Electrical energy is provided to the trucks courtesy of AeroVironment's PosiCharge™ Fast Charge System.
Onboard batteries, chargers, transmissions, and inverters are linked to the vehicles CAN Bus for data output and configuration as required. These advanced technical features are termed proprietary flux vector control technology and provide increased efficiencies for Balqon trucks. This means time and money savings to the owner.
Balqon technology has been incorporated into 10 to 50 ton capacity vehicles and material handling equipment. Current Balqon EVs includes rigs designed to haul containers at marine terminals, warehouses, military bases, rail yard facilities,
mail depots, and other intermodal facilities.
Balqon EVs are on the move, and so are their drive lines. The company just
received an order to produce some 300 electric drive systems from China-based Winston Global Energy. The sale is worth some $15.9 million or about $53,000
US per unit.
The drive units are to be installed in a fleet of EV buses.
Balqon has a new model electric truck, the XR E20. The new rig sports a 200 hp motor producing 600 ft-lbs of torque. The operating range is about 150 miles, or 16 hours. The rig features liquid cooled controllers and quick charge capability.
Balqon has started production of the EQC EF450 all electric shuttle bus.
The bus seats 14 and recharges in 30 minutes - perfect for the airport!
Balqon Mule M150
Balqon electric trucks have arrived. The rigs are now being tested at the US Port of Los Angeles. The total EV truck market there is estimated at 14,000 rigs.
Electric trucks may become the EV rig of choice at the port. In 2007, the Port
along with several other local agencies, funded an EV truck demonstration
project featuring one Balqon rig. Five new trucks have since been purchased
as part of a $5.6 million investment in electric truck technology.
