Billed as the most influential technology show in the world, the Consumer Electronics Show held at Las Vegas last month registered rapid progress in technologies towards complete electrification and autonomous operations of Class 8 heavy trucks and delivery vehicles meant for last-mile e-commerce applications in the international markets. Dhiyanesh Ravichandran brings you the details.
With the returning of CES from virtual mode to live event format this year, excitements had hit new levels among tech professionals, manufacturers, and enthusiasts of consumer electronic products across the globe. As an influential platform to exhibit and explore technologies of the future, CES, in recent years, have become an inevitable show that none of them can afford to miss. The show has also emerged big on automotive and mobility solutions, thanks to the massive invasion of electronics and connected technologies into vehicle engineering and operations in this century.
Freight transportation stood as one of the top themes at CES this year. More than 200 of the 2,200-odd exhibitors were focused on commercial transportation, with a shared vision to make trucking and cargo delivery greener, safer, and efficient, including vehicle makers and EV startups, developers of self-driving vehicle technologies, and connected fleet-management solution providers. From battery-powered Class 8 semi-trucks to last-mile delivery vehicles, on the one hand, and autonomous driving capabilities to connected location technologies on the other, the show marked latest innovation and technological trajectory for the segment.
Here are the top 10 news makers concerning freight transportation from the CES 2022 event:
PACCAR taking the tech lead
The most-prominent CV maker to steal the show was PACCAR, with its latest exhibit of electric, connected, and autonomous trucks under the Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF brands. “PACCAR is investing in next-generation technologies across its portfolio of transportation solutions. We are delighted to return to CES to showcase PACCAR’s innovative electric, connected and autonomous trucks,” said John Rich, chief technology officer.
Peterbilt 579 with ‘Aurora Driver’ autonomous system
This truck is equipped with PACCAR’s autonomous enabling technology that is configured to the self-driving system developed by Aurora, a leading self-driving tech firm based in the US. The Aurora Driver is a Level 4 autonomous systems that comes with a suite of sensors including FirstLight Lidar, long-range imaging radar, and high-resolution cameras that senses the road scenario to seamlessly integrate with an on-board computer and software, thereby ensuring vehicle and road safety, and operational efficiency. “PACCAR’s partnership with Aurora will benefit our over the road customers with enhanced safety and efficiency,” added Rich.
Kenworth T680E with PACCAR battery charger
Designed for pickup and delivery, regional haul and drayage applications, this Class 8 truck has an estimated operating range of about 240 kms in single charge and an impressive less than 3.5-hour charging time. It is equipped with Meritor’s ‘Blue Horizon’ 14Xe tandem electric powertrain. For fleet customers, PACCAR Parts together with its EV charging station infrastructure partners EnTech Solutions and Schneider Electric showcased charger solutions.
DAF XG+ with connected technologies
The ‘International Truck of the Year 2022’ features connected services through PACCAR’s proprietary fleet management platform, which monitors driver performance, fuel consumption, vehicle location and more. “PACCAR Connect will enhance our customers’ experience by providing robust data security, OTA software updates, and advanced fleet management tools, while enabling customers to cost effectively integrate their existing fleet management systems and applications,” said Harry Wolters, DAF president.
TuSimple’s Autonomous Freight Network
This California-based company showcased a Class 8 International tractor outfitted with its self-driving sensors and software. In 2020, TuSimple launched the world’s first Autonomous Freight Network that currently operates a fleet of more than 50 autonomous trucks between Arizona and Florida. At CES, the company in partnership with NVIDIA, announced the design and development of an advanced autonomous domain controller (ADC) specifically engineered for its Level 4 autonomous trucking applications.
BrightDrop electric delivery vehicles
This GM-backed brand focuses on decarbonizing last-mile delivery with electric and connected LCVs. The company’s EV600 and EV410 electric delivery vans hit headlines at CES this year, as Walmart has reserved 5,000 units of those vehicles to realize its goal of operating a zero-emissions logistics fleet by 2040. BrightDrop also announced at the show that FedEx has also reserved priority production for 2,000 electric delivery vans over the next few years. The EV600 is built on GM’s Ultium EV Platform and is currently in production. The EV410 will be available in late 2023.
Electric Last Mile Solutions (ELMS)
ELMS is yet another startup venturing into smart e-delivery vehicles market. It displayed its all-electric Class 1 urban delivery van and a Class 3 urban utility truck at CES 2022. The company plans to begin selling the van for delivery operations later this month in the US, while the production of the utility truck is likely to begin later this year.
Lilee Systems
A leading provider of transportation safety and autonomous driving systems, Lilee Systems showcased its new autonomous vehicle and fleet management software at the show. The company unveiled its new Instant Clear View System (ICVS) that protects camera lens from droplets and light dusts to better support ADAS and object detection innovations. Our products on display were Automotive Ethernet and LiDAR Lite solutions to meet the growing demand in the self-driving and EV applications in commercial transportation space.
RR.AI AutoDrive system
This American autonomous tech company showed off a Mack Anthem truck equipped with ‘AutoDrive’ autonomous system that can navigate the vehicle in highly dynamic public roads, complex yard environments, and unstructured or rugged terrain without relying on GPS connectivity. The company, previously known for developing autonomous vehicle tech for the defense applications, is now targeting off-road commercial applications such as logging operations.
FPT Industrial and Nikola
Sharing the common mission to revolutionize and decarbonize heavy on-road transport, the two companies together exhibited an integrated electric axle suitable for Class 8 trucks. Delivering a high performance of 840 kW power and 560 km range, the e-axle was jointly developed for the BEV version of the Nikola Tre truck, whose joint production with IVECO commenced in September last year in Germany.