Commercial Vehicles | Power Systems Research

2022-10-21

Functional Miniature Hydrogen Fuel Cell Powers RC Truck

Hydrogen fuel cells are still a bit mysterious and likely are unattainable in the near future, but you can actually buy them right now, whether in vehicles or as parts. To demonstrate how practical they are, Alfonso Delgado Ollero built a miniature hydrogen fuel cell to power an RC truck.

The practical concerns of producing the hydrogen in the first place and the energy density being relatively low are relevant when talking about the future of the automotive industry, but according to Alfonso Delgado Ollero, they shouldn’t prevent makers from experimenting with hydrogen fuel cells.

2022-10-02

Alternative Power Report, September 2022

Guy Youngs

PSR Alternative Power Report – Sept, 2022 Download

The September 2022 issue of the Alternative Power Report from PSR discusses Cummins new energy storage system, battery electric forecasts and EV shipping applications. PSR

2022-09-28

Special Report: M&T Expo

Carlos Briganti

BRAZIL/SOUTH AMERICA REPORT

TheM&T Expo 2022 is one of the most important trade fairs in the construction and mining equipment industry throughout Latin America and this year the show featured more than 600 exhibiting brands in 54,000 square meters. Held in Sao Paulo Aug. 30-Sept. 2, 2022, the event had more than 30,000 visits in four days.

Disagreements between show organizers and exhibitors caused key players in the market to avoid the show. The list of missing exhibitors included Caterpillar, John Deere, Komatsu, JCB, CNH, and Volvo. Chinese companies, as well as Liebherr, took this opportunity to use large spaces at the event, both in area and in product portfolio with respective sales and engineering teams.

Navistar Introduces S13 Engine Platform

Chris Fisher

Navistar says it plans to introduce the Navistar 12.7 liter S13 engine platform in the fourth quarter of 2023. The S13 engine is based upon the Scania DC13 engine and will supersede the current 12.4 liter A26 engine platform starting next year. The initial engine installations will be standard on the LT and RH truck platforms and will be introduced to the HV and HX platforms in 2024. The order books are expected to open in October.

The S13 engine will be paired with the new International T14 automated manual transmission. The T14 is a 14 speed AMT which is the first transmission offered by the company.

The current A26 engine platform is based upon the MAN D26 engine platform and will be superseded by the S13 engine over the next few years. Navistar will continue to source the Cummins engine lineup for the foreseeable future. According to Navistar, this will be the last engine upgrade for the company as they plan to focus on zero-emission vehicles. Navistar says that half of all its new vehicles sold by 2030 will be zero-emission; it expects to reach 100% of sales in 2040. PSR

Source: International S13

Chris Fisher is Senior Commercial Vehicle Analyst at Power Systems Research

2022-08-20

Hino Motors’ Engine Fraud Covers 560,000 vehicles

Akihiro Komuro

FAR EAST: JAPAN REPORT

Hino Motors has announced that the falsification of diesel engine emission values, which was previously announced in March, had been taking place since at least 2003 or earlier. The company had previously stated that the fraud began in the fall of 2016. In 2016, the company also revealed that it had falsely reported to the MLIT (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism) in response to its request for a fact-finding survey on exhaust gas and fuel efficiency tests.

Source: The Nikkei

PSR Analysis: Although I do not wish to make such negativity a theme, I cannot overlook this issue. The impact on the industry of the fraud at Hino, which has the top share of the medium- and heavy-duty truck sector in Japan, is significant. Isuzu has suspended shipments of four bus models that use Hino engines. Not limited to the automotive field, Tadano cranes, Kobelco hydraulic excavators, Hitachi Construction Machinery wheel loaders, and Kato rough terrain cranes have also been forced to suspend shipments after the problem came to light.

CV Industry Is Moving in Top Gear

Aditya Kondejkar

INDIA REPORT

The commercial industry will grow with trucks and buses expected to do well. Truck sales will improve as many industries require more units as they are running at full capacity

The Indian economy managed to revive itself during the first and second COVID waves and quickly achieved a V-shaped recovery.

This year, GST is reaching high levels. GST collection has witnessed a growth of 26% YoY – YTD CY22. Furthermore, the generation of e-way bills is increasing rapidly. The generation of e-way bills is directly proportional to truck utilization and drives vehicle demand.

Marcopolo To Deliver 30 EV Buses in 2022

Fabio Ferraresi

Formerly using chassis built by other companies, mainly BYD, Marcopolo has announced plans to build its own EV chassis. It plans to produce and offer a complete set of bus chassis and bus body. It plans to deliver of 30 units in different setups for Brazilian cities in 2023.

Source: Automotive Business Read The Article

PSR Analysis: Marcopolo is betting that its own chassis is more competitive for the market from an engineering and product standpoint. While preparing to compete with its chassis suppliers and partners in the EV segment, it still depends on them for the main volume of transit and intercity buses that is ICE powered. PSR

Fabio Ferraresi is Director Business Development-South America for Power Systems Research

Mercedes To Deliver 1000 EV Bus by 2023 to São Paulo

Fabio Ferraresi

During the Lat.Bus show in São Paulo, the Sales Director of Mercedes, Walter Barbosa, affirmed the demand of 500 EV Bus in 2022 and 500 in 2023, but he expect no deliveries in 2022 and all delivered in 2023.

Source: Automotive Business Read The Article

PSR Analysis: Mercedes is running against the clock to win the business in São Paulo. Although it is preferred by the public transportation companies, BYD is ahead with product already developed. Marcopolo shows as a solution with own chassis and body, but still in early stages of launch. PSR

Fabio Ferraresi is Director Business Development-South America for Power Systems Research

Volvo EV Bus Planned for Brazil in 2023

Fabio Ferraresi

Volvo’s EV bus is now in the homologation phase in Brazil. Initially it will be produced in Sweden, with plans to be produced in Brazil for the South America market. The Curitiba plant engineering has participated significantly in the Bus Development.

Source: Automotive Business Read The Article

PSR Analysis: Volvo adapt its line-up to compete in the Brazil and South America market that will demand significant part of the volume for the EV models. It is slightly behind Mercedes and Marcopolo with its own bus, but still able to catch-up and compete in main markets. PSR

Fabio Ferraresi is Director Business Development-South America for Power Systems Research