Is COVID-19 a Natural Disaster?

In late March, about halfway through the United States’ first round of social distancing, Generac CEO Aaron Jagdfeld spoke with Yahoo Finance’s Seana Smith about whether Generac was seeing a spike in demand from COVID-19.

Tyler Wiegert
Tyler Wiegert

Smith noted that the power generation segment tends to do better during and after a natural disaster, and wanted to know the answer to a question that has also been on our minds at Power Systems Research: “Is COVID-19 a Natural Disaster?”

Like many of the other questions surrounding COVID-19, like “Is the United States heading into a recession?” or “How do we distribute scarce medical resources?” the answer isn’t clear cut.

Additionally, hotels and other buildings are being converted into temporary hospitals as states prepare for their regular ICUs to reach capacity. He states that those buildings might not have typically had back-up power, but now need to be quickly outfitted to meet regulations for critical care centers.

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2020, A Year to Forget for MHV; 2021 Is Looking Better

Chris Fisher
Chris Fisher

SUMMARY: In this article we provide a global overview on a regional basis of the medium and heavy commercial vehicle market (GVWR > 6 MT’s) along with current trends and OEM happenings in North America.

NORTH AMERICA. MHCV production in North America is expected to decline by 35% in 2020 compared to 2019.  However, orders for class 8 trucks improved significantly in Q4 2020 as large fleets placed their orders for a 2021 build.  This appears to signal an improvement in demand for 2021 as the market aligns itself with the expected freight level moving forward.  The consumer segment was strong during the last half of the year and the industrial segment is now expected to improve, as well. 

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DATAPOINT: North America Terminal Tractors

Estimated 2022 Production: 3,800 Units

3,800 units is the estimate by Power Systems Research of the number of Terminal Tractors to be produced in North America (United States) in 2023.

Terminal Tractors are specialized heavy duty vehicles designed to move loads at container ports and container terminals. Generally, they are slow moving (under 30km/h) and employ a high torque diesel engine and 4×4 wheel drive which enables them to move very heavy trailer loads, sometimes up to 200 or 300 tons

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Fabio Discusses Electrification of MHV

Today, Fabio Fabio Ferraresi, Director of Business Development in South America, discusses Brazil MH vehicle production and trends in MHV propulsion and powertrains.

Transcript

Welcome to the PSR PowerTALK podcast produced by Power Systems Research.

00:06 Joe Delmont

From Power Systems Research I’m Joe Delmont, editor of PSR PowerTALK. Today we’ll talk with Fabio Ferraresi about transportation trends in Brazil, especially as they apply to medium and heavy vehicles. We’ll discuss 2021 Brazil production forecasts, and we’ll also look at trends in propulsion and powertrains for medium and heavy vehicles.

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PowerTALK™ News, October 2020

The October issue of PowerTALK News includes stories on alternative-powered vehicles, including electric-powered tankers, a solar trailer, robotic lawn mowers and Tesla car operations in China.

  • Global: Opportunities and Challenges
  • NA: Bus Conversions
  • NA: Robot Mowers
  • DataPoint: US Shredders
  • EU: Scania Develops Solar Trailer
  • SA: HVO Set in Brazil
  • SA: Brazil Trade Pacts
  • SA: IVECO Sells NG Trucks
  • China: Tesla Cuts Prices
  • Japan: Kawasaki To Build Electric Ship
  • Japan: Yanmar Sets Data Program
  • S. Korea: Hyundai Adds Luxury Features
  • India: Daimler Adds Dealers
  • India: Tractor Sales Jump
  • Russia: Ford Restarts Plant
  • Russia: BelAZ Dump Trucks?
  • Russia: Hyundai Cuts Production

Volvo To Produce Trucks in China in 2022

Jack Hao
Jack Hao

Volvo Trucks expects to start production of the new heavy-duty Volvo FH, Volvo FM and Volvo FMX trucks in Taiyuan for local customers in China late next year.  Volvo Trucks has agreed to acquire a subsidiary of China’s Jiangling Motors Co to produce trucks for the local market starting late next year. JMC Heavy Duty Vehicle Co, which includes a manufacturing site in Taiyuan, capital of North China’s Shanxi province, will be purchased for $120.4 million (780 million yuan), said the Swedish truck maker.

Source:  China Daily     Read The Article

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Trailers with Electric Drive Axle Authorized in Brazil

BRAZIL/SOUTH AMERICA REPORT  

Heavy vehicles using electric axle systems in the trailer now can be driven on Brazilian Roads, following approval by the National Traffic Council (Contran) at its meeting in May.

Suspensys, a Brazilian company part of Randon group launched the product at Fenatran of 2019, but only now has it been approved by traffic authorities.

Source: M&T Magazine     Read The Article

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Brazil Highway Implement Registrations Continue High

BRAZIL/SOUTH AMERICA REPORT  

July registrations of implements (trailer and over-chassis) reached 13,133 units, above the January to May average of 12,500 units. ANFIR (National Association of Road Implement Manufacturers) forecast is to reach 165,000 unit registrations, slightly above the 163,000 registered last year.

Source: Automotive Business      Read The Article

PSR Analysis: The trailers and over-chassis implement supply chain has fewer constraints than the Truck supply chain. While the market is influenced by the same drivers, the atypical stops due to shortage of components make the Trailer market an indicator of the Truck Market without the constraints. The positive outlook either in terms of actual sales and the forecast made by the OEM reinforces the forecast of a strong MHV production and sales numbers for the second half of 2022.    PSR

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

NA Electric Motorcycle Segment Growing

Michael Aistrup
Michael Aistrup

Motorcycling in America is changing as industry leaders and new technology competitors are trying to attract newer/younger riders who want something different from Harley-Davidson’s big cruisers or screaming Japanese and European performance bikes.

The changes are in response to younger riders who are attracted to the efficiency and fun of two-wheel travel associated with e-motorcycles, while older riders are losing interest, or simply becoming unable to ride any longer.

At present, e-motorcycles remain a niche market. Riders are typically city dwellers in their early 40s–slightly younger than the average age of a U.S. motorcycle rider, which is 47, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council’s U.S. Motorcycle Owner Survey — and uses the bike to commute.

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