During an event at its technical center in Columbus, Ind., Cummins Inc. unveiled a fully electric Class 7 demonstration Urban Hauler Tractor, dubbed the Aeos (a reference to one of the four winged horses driving Greek mythology’s sun god across the sky). The truck includes a battery pack offering with a charge time of one hour for a full charge and a range of 100 miles. That range can be extended to 300 miles with additional battery expansion.
Additionally, the concept truck design includes an engine-generator option for extended range capabilities, allowing users to take advantage of Cummins B4.5 or B6.7 engines. These engine options offer 50% fuel savings compared to today’s diesel hybrids with zero emissions and boost range to 600 miles, Cummins said. It weighs in at max. 75,000 lbs. GVWR with the tractor at 18,000 lbs. It sports a 44,000-lb. max payload. In terms of efficiency, the truck touts an approximate 30 MPG diesel equivalent. Cummins stated that it is a technology demonstrator for vocational applications such as urban delivery operations, port drayage and terminal container handling.
In addition to the electric truck, Cummins also displayed the latest in its diesel engines: the X12, which is slated for release in March 2018; and an early prototype of the next iteration of the X15 to debut in 2022.
Stay tuned for more info as we unpack everything that was discussed at the press event.
