Photo: Amp Electric
Delivery vans might find themselves face to face with a revolutionary movement after Amp Electric decided to try their luck and come up with a electrified commercial truck. But is this a viable option for the future of short-distance deliveries?
Things are starting to look rosy for Amp Electric, after United Parcel Service (UPS) made the decision to buy and test 18 Workhorse E-Gen E-100 electric vans. The project only targets the Houston-Galveston area of Texas. So you might be wondering, what is so special about an electric truck named Workhorse, right? Well, that’s why you are here in the first place.
The electric motor on the E-Gen truck delivers 268 HP (200 kW) and is powered by a 60 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The range is rated at about 60 miles (96 km), but before invoking range-anxiety, keep in mind that his is a decent value since such trucks have predictable daily use and sometimes pre-established routes.
In case that’s not enough, the eco-friendly delivery truck can receive a range extender, which is nothing but 25 HP engine that can either run on gasoline or compressed natural gas. It also turns on automatically when the van is stopped and shifted into Park, acting as a generator to recharge the battery.
But still, why would a company want to invest in electric trucks or delivery vans? Aside for the universal answer mentioning economic recessions, fleet operators used to paying hefty amounts of money for keeping thirsty trucks running will instantly see the financial benefit of an electric truck.
Also, the lack of transmission in electric cars is appealing to fleet owners, as they usually have to regularly perform maintenance works for truck operating in crowded urban ares, where stop-and-go traffic is king. From looking at how things stand right now, this could prove to be a potential jackpot niche worth exploring in the near future. The opportunity is out there, waiting for someone to seize it.
The electric motor on the E-Gen truck delivers 268 HP (200 kW) and is powered by a 60 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The range is rated at about 60 miles (96 km), but before invoking range-anxiety, keep in mind that his is a decent value since such trucks have predictable daily use and sometimes pre-established routes.
In case that’s not enough, the eco-friendly delivery truck can receive a range extender, which is nothing but 25 HP engine that can either run on gasoline or compressed natural gas. It also turns on automatically when the van is stopped and shifted into Park, acting as a generator to recharge the battery.
But still, why would a company want to invest in electric trucks or delivery vans? Aside for the universal answer mentioning economic recessions, fleet operators used to paying hefty amounts of money for keeping thirsty trucks running will instantly see the financial benefit of an electric truck.
Also, the lack of transmission in electric cars is appealing to fleet owners, as they usually have to regularly perform maintenance works for truck operating in crowded urban ares, where stop-and-go traffic is king. From looking at how things stand right now, this could prove to be a potential jackpot niche worth exploring in the near future. The opportunity is out there, waiting for someone to seize it.
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