Navistar electric truck is producing E-Star medium duty delivery trucks. The CARB certified trucks bear the FedEx logo and may be seen working in Southern California. FedEx will be evaluating four E-Stars for fleet use. The E-Star is Modec designed and Navistar built.
Navistar recently aquired an equity stake in Modec’s main company, Borwick Group Limited. Navistar is ranked 175 of Fortune 500 companies in North America. Navistar 2009 revenues came to some $15 billion US. The company was founded in 1831 with the manufacture of agricultural rigs.
Navistar received some $39 Million US in Federal grants to help manufacture the battery pack and drive train of the E-Star. A123 Systems provided the lithium- ion battery pack expertise. The E-Star is the first electric vehicle in the US to roll out with the aid of Government stimulus funding (a $2.4 billion program).
Start to finish time for the first Navistar electric truck has been just over 1.5 years...fast for a large Government backed program. The pace of production may slow however as A123 works to ramp up pack production. The trucks are being built in a new plant in Elkhart, Indiana. The new THINK City EV is also to be made in Elkhart.
The new electric trucks are specified to carry about 2 tons (4,000 lbs) with the trucks themselves tipping the scales at around 6 tons (12,000 lbs). The actual FedEx version comes in at 8,800 lbs with an additional payload capability of 3,300 lbs. The load is pushed ahead by an 80 kW (102 hp) motor which develops 212 ft lb torque. Combined with the 80 kWh battery pack the new truck is rated to a 100 mile range. More specs for the E Star are here.
Charging is completed through an onboard 220V 32 Amp (7 kW) charger. Time to full is from 8-12 hours. The next generation 10 kW charger is expected to do the job in 6-8 hours.
Lets hope the FedEx tests go well and the company decides to replace at least part of its tens of thousands-strong fleet with the new EV trucks. Given the state of diesel emission standards, potential fuel price increases, and maintenance costs, it seems possible.
The new E-Star trucks are set to sell for around $150,000 US each. Companies in Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington, have expressed an interest in purchasing the EVs.
Navistar has signed on with the University of Illinois as a corporate affiliate of the Hoeft Technology & Management program. The program provides a minor between
the schools of engineering and business.
