Browse Topic: Fleets
April saw two major tradeshows take place, playing host to numerous advanced vehicle and technology reveals from global OEMs and suppliers - some of which are detailed in these pages. Bauma in Munich, Germany, a leading trade fair for the construction and mining vehicle industries, saw around 600,000 visitors from more than 200 countries and regions, as well as over 3,600 exhibitors from 57 nations. Billed as the largest advanced CV technology show, ACT Expo engaged more than 12,000 stakeholders from at least 54 countries, including over 2,700 fleet operators. But just as present as the technology itself at these shows was the ongoing uncertainty stemming from the Trump administration's volatile trade policy announced on April 2 involving steep tariffs that have been adjusted frequently in the ensuing weeks.
Eaton’s Aerospace Group is collaborating with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) on the advancement of technologies to increase aircraft efficiency, enable aircraft electrification, and reduce carbon emissions. Leveraging our expertise as an intelligent power management company, Eaton’s products and research include hydraulic power packs, electromechanical actuation (EMA), thermal management systems, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) compatible systems. Eaton Blended Power TM systems improve efficiency through eliminating all centralized hydraulic circuits with distributed power that is provided by a combination of hydraulic power packs and EMA for a More Electric Aircraft (MEA). EMA systems, including electrical synchronization, reduce the usage of hydraulics and provide additional functionality that benefits the aircraft. With MEA comes higher energy and thermal densities, resulting in the need for advanced thermal management. Eaton’s scalable and modular thermal management
E-mobility is revolutionizing the automotive industry by improving energy-efficiency, lowering CO2 and non-exhaust emissions, innovating driving and propulsion technologies, redefining the hardware-software-ratio in the vehicle development, facilitating new business models, and transforming the market circumstances for electric vehicles (EVs) in passenger mobility and freight transportation. Ongoing R&D action is leading to an uptake of affordable and more energy-efficient EVs for the public at large through the development of innovative and user-centric solutions, optimized system concepts and components sizing, and increased passenger safety. Moreover, technological EV optimizations and investigations on thermal and energy management systems as well as the modularization of multiple EV functionalities result in driving range maximization, driving comfort improvement, and greater user-centricity. This paper presents the latest advancements of multiple EU-funded research projects under
Camera-based mirror systems (CBMS) are being adopted by commercial fleets based on the potential improvements to operational efficiency through improved aerodynamics, resulting in better fuel economy, improved maneuverability, and the potential improvement for overall safety. Until CBMS are widely adopted it will be expected that drivers will be required to adapt to both conventional glass mirrors and CBMS which could have potential impact on the safety and performance of the driver when moving between vehicles with and without CBMS. To understand the potential impact to driver perception and safety, along with other human factors related to CBMS, laboratory testing was performed to understand the impact of CBMS and conventional glass mirrors. Drivers were subjected to various, nominal driving scenarios using a truck equipped with conventional glass mirrors, CBMS, and both glass mirrors and CBMS, to observe the differences in metrics such as head and eye movement, reaction time, and
As the United States Army explores electrified tactical vehicles, wireless power transfer (WPT) has emerged as a promising recharging method. WPT allows multiple vehicles to recharge while in proximity of a charging station based on a mobile platform. This study examines the requirements of WPT by analyzing geo-location data from over 400 tactical vehicles at the National Training Center. The data was extracted, cleaned, and analyzed to identify periods when vehicles were close enough for effective WPT. The analysis quantifies the amount of time vehicles spend in proximity and their average distance apart, both while stationary and moving, to establish initial WPT requirements. These results were combined with energy consumption rates to estimate the power throughput of a WPT system. Vehicles were found to be stationary and close to other vehicles for most of the day, making WPT a practical solution in those situations. Although the analysis found that WPT is feasible during convoys
At NTEA's 2024 Work Truck Week, REE Automotive showcased its P7 EV chassis and REEcorners modular suspension system. At the time, the P7 was being offered to North American fleets for demos. One year later at the 2025 edition of Work Truck Week, REE offered SAE Media the opportunity to jump into the cab of the P7 and experience the truck's capabilities firsthand. SAE Media wheeled the P7 around downtown Indianapolis with Peter Dow, VP of engineering for REE Automotive, riding shotgun to discuss some of the details of the P7's driving experience and the engineering behind it.
Komatsu works with Pronto to upfit a growing fleet of haul trucks operating at Komatsu's Arizona Proving Grounds and customer sites. At Komatsu's Quarry Days 2025 event at its Arizona Proving Grounds (AZPG) outside of Tucson, dealers, customers and media got the opportunity to operate Komatsu mining and construction equipment, learn about its latest technology innovations and talk to product experts. A highlight of the event was the first public demonstration of Komatsu's HD605-10 haul truck outfitted with Pronto's Autonomous Haulage System (AHS), spotlighting the equipment maker's partnership with the AI tech startup to pilot autonomous quarry haulage operations. Several HD605-10 trucks have been equipped with AHS as part of this program currently being tested by quarry operators in Texas. The AZPG site currently has just the one automated truck.
While some developers of autonomous technology for commercial trucks have stalled out, there's renewed energy to deliver augmented ADAS and automated driving systems to mass production. After a tumultuous 2023 that saw several autonomous trucking startups pivot out of or exit the arena entirely, there has been a recent resurgence of investment and efforts to bring the vision of driverless freight fleets to reality. In the wake of firms like Embark, TuSimple and Waymo scaling back or rolling up operations, Aurora, Continental and Knorr-Bremse have all announced continued development of SAE Level 4 systems with the intention to deploy trucks using these systems at scale. OEMs such as Volvo Trucks have also announced updates to existing technologies that will augment current advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) to help human drivers become safer behind the wheel.
Electric vehicle (EV) growth may be stagnant in certain market sectors amid pushback on EV mandates along with lingering infrastructure and TCO concerns, but in terminal tractor operations electrification is growing in demand. As part of its initial Run on Less - Electric demonstration, the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE) concluded that terminal tractors are “one of the best, if not the best, paths for heavy-duty tractor fleets to learn about and implement a BEV in a fleet operation.” Fleets operating in ports, intermodal yards and other logistics hubs have a new option from which to choose now that Kalmar officially began sales of its Ottawa T2 EV electric terminal tractor. The order book opened at the Technology & Maintenance Council's (TMC) 2025 Transportation Technology Exhibition in Nashville, Tennessee, in March. Kalmar states that select customers have already placed preorders. Initial deliveries will begin in Q2 2025.
At $829 billion in revenues, 2023 was a banner year for the aerospace industry led by civil aviation companies. Despite its strength, operations were hampered by production constraints, the lingering effects of supply chain and workforce disruptions, and higher materials costs. Even as those issues abate, the commercial sector is chasing accelerated demand. A flood of new aircraft orders pushing backlogs at an accelerated pace is causing the industry to struggle as it seeks to ramp up production. If the dynamic persists, many airlines will be forced to revise or postpone existing plans for enlarging, refreshing, or greening their fleets.
Innovation often comes a piece at a time, but what happens when you put all those pieces together at once? That is precisely the question Shell is attempting to answer with its Starship initiative. Now in its third iteration, Starship 3.0 Natural Gas continues pushing the boundaries of efficiency and emissions reduction by employing all currently available technologies and engineering advancements. The Shell Starship initiative was first launched in 2018 with the aim of setting new benchmarks for the commercial road transport sector. The Starship 2.0 managed 254 ton-miles per gallon for freight ton efficiency (FTE), which is 3.5 times the North American average. Additionally, Starship 2.0 recorded fuel consumption of 10.8 mpg on a cross-country run, which according to Shell is nearly double the current fleet average in North America.
Details of combustion — the chemical reactions that take place when, for example, a flame is lit — are fleeting and therefore, difficult to study. But scientists would like to better understand the complex processes that occur in those billionths of seconds, not only to make engines more efficient but also to shed light on how candle flames, cars, and airplanes produce gases and particles that are harmful to humans and the environment.
HD Hyundai recently announced several new additions to its portfolio of off-highway machines. The expansion includes the HD100 dozer, the HX355A excavator, and a quartet of new models for its HX-A series of compact excavators. The HD100 is Hyundai's first new crawler dozer model. “The new HD100 dozer will be a great addition to the equipment fleets of earthmoving contractors, forestry, waste handlers and other customers who already enjoy the benefits of using Hyundai wheel loaders and excavators,” said Mike Ross, senior VP, HD Hyundai Construction Equipment North America.
Volvo made several key announcements at the 2024 Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in Las Vegas. The company also reaffirmed its goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions with a 100% fossil-free fleet of trucks and off-highway machines by 2040. “The sustainable future is not only about electric trucks, though they do play a very important role,” said Peter Voorhoeve, president of Volvo Trucks North America. “It's about all the things that we transport. For a sustainable future, there is not one silver bullet. We will have different technologies that all enable zero-emissions trucks. This will include electric drivelines, hydrogen fuel cells, and internal combustion engines.”
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