Equipment & Tech

PHOENIX — Nikola Corp. Tuesday released details of its new battery that has a record energy density of 1,100 watt-hours per kg on the material level and 500 watt-hours per kg on the production cell level. The Nikola prototype cell is the first battery that removes binder material and current collectors, enabling more energy storage within the cell, according to Nikola Motor Co. CEO Trevor Milton. It is also expected to pass nail penetration standards, thus reducing potential vehicle fires, he said. “This battery technology could increase the range of current EV passenger cars from 300 miles up to 600 miles with little or no increase to battery size and weight,” he said. “The technology is also designed to operate in existing vehicle conditions. Moreover, cycling the cells over 2,000 times has shown acceptable end-of-life performance.” Milton said Nikola’s new cell technology is environmentally friendly and easy to recycle. While conventional lithium-ion cells contain elements that are toxic and expensive, the new technology will have a positive impact on the earth’s resources, landfills and recycling plants. This month, Nikola entered into a letter of intent to acquire a world-class battery engineering team to help bring the new battery to pre-production. Through this acquisition, Nikola will add 15 PhDs and five master’s degree team members. Because of confidentiality and security reasons, additional details of the acquisition will not be disclosed until Nikola World 2020, the dates of which have not been chosen. “This is the biggest advancement we have seen in the battery world,” Milton said. “We are not talking about small improvements; we are talking about doubling your cell phone battery capacity. We are talking about doubling the range of BEVs and hydrogen-electric vehicles around the world. “Nikola is in discussions with customers for truck orders that could fill production slots for more than 10 years and propel Nikola to become the top truck manufacturer in the world in terms of revenue. Now the question is why not share it with the world?” Milton said. Nikola will show the batteries charging and discharging in front of the crowd at Nikola World expected to be held in the fall of 2020. Milton listed some key points surrounding the announcement: Nikola’s battery electric trucks could now drive 800 miles fully loaded between charges. Nikola trucks could weigh 5,000 pounds less than the competition if same battery size was kept. Nikola’s hydrogen-electric fuel cell trucks could surpass 1,000 miles between stops and top off in 15 minutes. There will be an energy density up to 1,100 watt-hours per kg on a material level and 500 watt-hours per kg on a production cell level including casing, terminals and separator, more than double current lithium-ion battery cells It can be cycled over 2,000 times with acceptable end-of-life performance. There is a 40% reduction in weight compared to lithium-ion cells. There is a 50% material cost reduction per kWh compared to lithium-ion batteries. Because of the impact this technology will have on society and emissions, Nikola has taken an unprecedented position to share the IP with all other OEM’s, even competitors, that contribute to the Nikola IP license and new consortium. OEMs or other partners can email [email protected] for more information. Nikola Corp. designs and manufactures hydrogen-electric vehicles, electric vehicle drivetrains, vehicle components, energy storage systems, and hydrogen stations. The company is privately held and headquartered in Arizona. For more information, visit www.nikolamotor.com.  

BLOOMING PRAIRIE, Minn. — ‘Do you have a bigger tool box?’ is a question Minimizer says is common among end-user customers. “We get it all the time,” Minimizer Director of Marketing Steve Hansen said. “A 36-inch tool box isn’t necessarily big enough for certain applications, and we pride ourselves in meeting consumer demand.” Hansen said that demand is the primary reason the company is introducing a new 50-inch tool box to the heavy duty aftermarket. “Frequently, we hear about drivers that need additional space for tools, and this new box presents the perfect solution,” Hansen said. “For instance, many drivers carry a shovel, and this 50-inch tool box can accommodate a full-size shovel.” Made from a proprietary material that the company says will never rust, corrode, crack, or need paint, Minimizer tool boxes come with a lifetime warranty. “I can count on one hand the number of warranty claims we’ve had since I’ve been here. And I started with the company 13 years ago,” Training Director Rick Swenson said. The 50-inch tool box comes in six standard colors – black, red, white, silver, yellow, and granite – and is available in two styles – chest and underbody. Visit the Minimizer website to learn more about the new 50-inch tool box.    

COLUMBUS, Ind. — Cummins said Friday that the X12+Endurant powertrain from its integrated power portfolio is now available for customers in regional haul applications. Cummins officials said the powertrain delivers the lightest solution to the regional haul market in terms of maintenance intervals. Following Freightliner’s announcement at Tank Truck Week in Nashville, Tennessee, this lightweight powertrain from Cummins can be now be ordered in Freightliner’s brand new Cascadia 116” BBC Day Cab. This is a new market for the X12 engine, which has exclusively been available in vocational and refuse trucks before now. “The X12+Endurant powertrain’s lightweight, yet durable design allows customers to maximize their payload for each and every job,” said Amy Boerger, vice P\president – engine business sales for Cummins. “We wanted to create the optimal powertrain solution for customers with weight-sensitive applications, and we are confident this is it.” At just over 2,700 pounds, the X12 paired with the Eaton Cummins Endurant transmission is expected to be to be the lightest powertrain available for the Class 8 on-highway market, Boerger said. “It is a perfect match for weight-sensitive markets like bulk and regional haul applications. Driver-friendly features from the Endurant transmission like smooth shifting and quiet engine performance contribute to a comfortable in-cab environment, while Optimized Urge to Move and Creep Mode make maneuvering in low-speed environments easier,” she said. “We are thrilled that the X12 will now be available in the Freightliner Cascadia 116 BBC model,” said Paul Rosa, Penske Truck Leasing senior vice president of procurement and fleet planning. “This new offering makes for a great weight-conscious solution and will be a nice option for our customers.” Expanded availability of the X12 comes at the perfect time, as Cummins is expanding maintenance intervals for the platform, Boerger said, adding that customers can benefit from oil-drain intervals of up to 75,000 miles, and those that participate in Cummins OilGuard program may see extensions of up to 100,000 miles. “Together with the Endurant, which offers a 750,000 mile lube change interval and a maintenance-free clutch, you have a powertrain with the industry’s best maintenance intervals,” Boerger said. The 116” BBC day cab Cascadia with the Cummins X12 and Eaton Cummins Endurant begins production mid-2020. The Freightliner Cascadia is also available with the Cummins X15 Efficiency series engine and the Eaton Cummins Endurant in the 126” BBC day cab and sleeper models. For more information about Cummins, visit www.cummins.com.

ATLANTA — Global power provider Cummins displayed a full showcase of power solutions, ranging from advanced diesel engines and powertrain components to connectivity solutions as well as electric and fuel cell technologies at the 2019 North American Commercial Vehicle Show at Atlanta recently. “We want our customers to be successful,” said Brett Merritt, vice president – on-highway engine business at Cummins. “Cummins is committed to offering a diverse power portfolio to ensure each of our customers is equipped with the right technology at the right time to get their jobs done.” Merritt said Cummins diesel engine platforms are expanding for 2020, providing customers with dependable, efficient solutions for line-haul, regional-haul, heavy-haul, vocational and specialty applications. The X15 engine offering for 2020 includes a new X15 Efficiency Series engine, a new Productivity Series offering and the Performance Series engine customers currently utilize. And with the expanding availability of the X12 engine, customers have access to the broadest ratings in the heavy-duty diesel space. “We believe that diesel technology will be the best solution for many of the markets we serve for decades to come,” Merritt said. “That’s why we continue to invest in and innovate our diesel platforms.” The 2020 X15 Efficiency Series engine is designed with customers’ total cost of ownership in mind. Base engine hardware improvements and advancements in air handling deliver up to a 3.5% better fuel economy when compared to the 2017 X15 Efficiency Series engine model.  The X15 platform now offers industry-leading oil drain intervals of up to 75,000 miles.  Extensions of up to 80,000 miles with the use of Valvoline Premium Blue oil and up to 100,000 miles through the Cummins OilGuard program are available for improved uptime. The 2020 X15 Efficiency Series also boasts new EX ratings which deliver expanded powertrain capabilities that can deliver up to an additional 1.5% fuel efficiency increase on top of the improvements gained through base engine hardware and feature enhancements. These ratings contain the full suite of powertrain features, including not only all prior ADEPT features but also new capabilities such as predictive gear shifting, predictive braking, dynamic power and industry-exclusive on-ramp boost, delivering powertrain performance and driver satisfaction across an entire fleet. Many of the powertrain features in the EX ratings are only available with the X15 Efficiency Series engine when paired with the Endurant transmission from the Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies joint venture. The new X15 Productivity Series ratings are designed for multi-purpose, vocational and heavy-haul customers who look not only for efficiency in their powertrain but also the response and performance needed to get the job done thanks to a wider engine speed range. In 2020, Cummins is offering the same X15 Performance Series engine customers have used in the past. With no changes to the product in 2020, the X15 Performance Series still dominates the big-bore industry with exceptional transient response and the most powerful engine brakem Merritt said. Cummins’ X12 engine continues to be an ideal solution for customers with weight-sensitive applications. Designed for customers with regional-haul, vocational and intermodal truck applications in mind, the X12 engine is the lightest in its class, Merritt said. “When paired with the Endurant transmission, Cummins offers the lightest powertrain in the industry, with unbeatable maintenance intervals across the system,” he said. “This engine rounds out Cummins’ heavy-duty diesel offering, helping customers get the job done, day-in and day-out.”  

PORTLAND, Ore. — Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) Alliance Parts brand continues to expand its retail footprint to better serve customers by adding 15 new locations during October and November. Three standalone stores and 12 in-dealership retail locations opened across the U.S. and Canada, including standalone stores in Carrefour du Camion in St. Quentin, Quebec, Canada; Houston Freightliner in Lufkin, Texas; and Centre du Camion in Mont-Laurier, Quebec, Canada. Recently opened Alliance Parts retail areas include locations at dealerships in Baltimore Freightliner in Baltimore; ATG Tri State Trucks in Westminster, Vermont; Garage Gilles Roy in St. Georges, Quebec, Canada; Freightliner of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio; Transwest in Grand Junction, Colorado; Transwest in Greeley, Colorado; Transwest in Frederick, Colorado; H&H Freightliner in Hope Mills, North Carolina; Campbell Freightliner in South Brunswick, New Jersey; Southport Truck Group in Tampa, Florida; Boston Freightliner in Everett, Massachusetts; and Truck Center Companies in Salina, Kansas. “Our priority is keeping customers on the road, so we are increasing our retail footprint in order to meet customers where they are and provide quality parts at the right price,” said Brad Williamson, director of marketing, Alliance Parts & Detroit Reman. “Alliance Parts is committed to creating a superior experience for our customers that helps them maximize their Uptime.” Customers of Alliance Parts will find an ever-increasing inventory of new and remanufactured parts available in-store and online, Williamson said. Recently added parts offerings from Alliance Parts, include height control valves, fuel pumps, water pumps, Detroit-branded carriers, composite bumpers and 14-gauge stainless steel bumper guards. Detroit trailers are available for nearly all medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. New, composite bumpers feature quick and easy installation with guaranteed fitment and are color-matched to the original grey bumper or easily painted on request. Alliance Parts’ new bumper guards fit 90 percent of both DTNA trucks as well as all makes and are interchangeable, rust resistant and include tow hooks. All Alliance Parts meet or exceed original equipment specifications for quality, fit and finish and are backed by a one year/unlimited mile nationwide warranty, Williamson said. Alliance Parts are now available at more than 800 locations with more locations opening in the near future. Matched with the all-new e-commerce platform from DTNA, Excelerator, Alliance Parts’ increasing retail footprint and growing portfolio of parts are helping to drive the Uptime revolution. Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Fort Mill, South Carolina, Alliance Parts offers parts for nearly all heavy-duty truck makes and models. Go to www.AllianceParts.com for a complete list of Alliance Parts locations and available products.

BLOOMFIELD, Conn. — Jacobs Vehicle Systems, a worldwide manufacturer of heavy-duty diesel engine retarding systems and valve actuation systems, recently released the results of fuel consumption and emission reduction tests with the company’s Cylinder Deactivation (CDA) technology under evaluation with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Super Truck II program. Jacobs’ CDA was installed on a 13-liter Navistar engine and revealed a 3% improvement in fuel consumption, and a corresponding decrease in NOx emissions from the baseline of 0.107 grams per horsepower-hour to 0.097 grams in a heavy duty FTP (Federal Test Procedure) transient cycle test. The NOx reduction is because of the increased exhaust temperatures during cold operation while in CDA mode, which pushes the SCR (selective catalytic reduction) system to its most efficient range of 250-400°C. “CDA allows a six-cylinder diesel engine to operate on just three of its cylinders when it is operating under light load and during cold starts,” said Robb Janak, Jacobs’ director of new technology. “The CDA mechanism in the valve-train allows the valves in the deactivated cylinders to simply remain closed. The injectors in those cylinders go to zero fuel at the same time to reduce fuel consumption. The engine switches from six-cylinder operation to three-cylinder operation via CDA whenever the load drops below a predetermined threshold.” The system has undergone lab testing and optimization for several years now and on a truck for nearly a year. CDA is now ready for additional tests on the road. “We’re excited to collaborate with Navistar on this important demonstration of the technology,” Janak said. “This is allowing us to show that this is not only ready for the road, but also for the market. It is our hope that we will be able to demonstrate even more fuel savings with CDA in real driving conditions than what we have already demonstrated in the lab.” Super Truck II is a multi-million dollar program involving the DOE, truck manufacturers and equipment suppliers to, in part, develop and demonstrate cost-effective technologies to improve medium- and heavy-duty truck efficiency. Jacobs has been actively involved with the Super Truck programs since its inception in 2009, testing and evaluating a variety of new technologies at its locations around the world with a variety of original equipment manufacturers. Janak said CDA represented a breakthrough because previously its two benefits — lower emissions and improved fuel economy — were mutually exclusive. Alternative technologies for lowering emissions by raising after-treatment temperatures have typically caused fuel consumption to worsen. “It enables large engines to have the fuel economy of smaller engines because it increases the load on the firing cylinders, increasing their efficiency; it reduces camshaft friction; reduces pumping losses in part-load conditions; and can reduce or eliminate use of the intake throttle,” Janak said. “Any number of cylinders can be deactivated as needed. At the lowest engine loads and with three of six cylinders deactivated, fuel consumption improves by up to 20 percent. During vehicle coasting conditions, CDA can be applied to some or all cylinders to further reduced the air mass flow going through the aftertreatment system to both reduce the cooling, and also reduce engine pumping losses, allowing the vehicle to coast further with less fuel.” Jacobs’ Cylinder Deactivation hardware has so far been demonstrated on 10 different heavy-duty engine platforms, covering seven to 15-liter engines, as well as six different heavy-duty truck road tests. It has undergone 6,900 hours and 118,000 km of durability testing. There have been more than 1.9 billion test cycles on CDA components and over 470 million cycles of fatigue and overload testing. “While other solutions from the passcar market exist, they have longevity and durability concerns that do not transfer well to the Heavy Duty market. Jacobs’ results demonstrate that its designs were made for the commercial vehicle market and are proven to perform,” Janak said. Combining this valvetrain technology with Jacob’s engine braking technologies, developed over nearly 60 years of commercial vehicle experience, can optimize the engine valve train for both positive power and engine retarding making it ready to handle the future requirements of heavy duty operation, Janak said.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Truck-Lite Co., a worldwide provider of LED lighting, telematics, engine protection, safety and visibility systems, has added a volumetric cargo system to its Road Ready trailer telematics suite. The system works by dividing a trailer into zones, depending on its size, and employing up to five cargo sensors that work in conjunction. Each sensor simultaneously reports how much freight is loaded into each zone, allowing fleets to see if there is any cargo space that is not being utilized. “Road Ready’s new volumetric cargo system gives fleets complete transparency into their trailers and helps them get the most out of their available space,” said Rob Richard, general manager of Truck-Lite’s Road Ready business division. “Knowing whether a trailer’s capacity is fully utilized allows for better decision making and improved overall efficiency, and Road Ready is the first system that has been able to answer the transportation industry’s growing demand for this technology.” Cargo volume from the new system will appear on a single widget on the Road Ready user interface, relaying how much freight is loaded into each zone, total loaded capacity and the percentage of remaining available space. Fewer sensors can be used on smaller trailers or bodies. The Road Ready system by Truck-Lite is a wireless, multi-functional trailer monitoring network and is easily customizable for any fleet requirement. With its suite of wireless sensors and the largest number of OE trailer system and fleet software integrations, Road Ready provides the most comprehensive and inclusive fleet telematics solution available. For more information, visit www.roadreadysystem.com.

ATLANTA — Mitchell 1 General Manager Scott DeGiorgio, told reporters at a news conference at the North American Commercial Vehicle show here recently that his company was committed to continuously enhance its software to provide all the information required to correctly diagnose and repair any make of truck in the fastest and least complicated way possible. The company’s TruckSeries suite of web-based software is designed to significantly increase the efficiency of commercial vehicle professionals. TruckSeries provides access to complete labor estimating, diagnostic trouble code procedures and repair information for all makes of medium- and heavy-duty trucks in a single application. “Our company started over 100 years ago with industry-leading printed repair manuals and is now providing the most complete web-based software for today’s commercial vehicles. And we are not done — many future advancements are on the horizon,” DeGiorgio said. DeGiorgio gave reporters an overview of how Mitchell 1’s advanced 1Search Plus interface, as well as the company’s newly enhanced wiring diagrams, utilize intelligent navigation to speed up the work of the technician by taking him or her directly to the information required with fewer clicks. “The less time a truck is down for repair, the more time it is available to produce revenue,” DeGiorgio said. The 1Search Plus interface streamlines search and navigation for diagnostic and repair information specific to the vehicle being serviced. A technician simply selects the vehicle he or she is working on, enters a search term for the type of repair required, and 1Search Plus brings together all relevant information in a user-friendly layout. Similarly, DeGiorgio said Mitchell 1’s enhanced wiring diagrams take the user directly to the specific component diagram with the related wires automatically highlighted, adding that Mitchell 1’s wiring diagrams have been a core feature of the company’s commercial vehicle repair software since it was first introduced to the industry in 2006. Now, the new navigation feature speeds up the search process and quickly opens the right diagram for the component being searched, without the need to scroll through multiple pages. DeGeorgio said Mitchell 1′s TruckSeries is the only comprehensive repair information software suite of its kind available for Class 4-8 trucks, delivering a one-stop, single log-in, all-makes data resource with scalable wiring diagrams, digital pictures, DTC-to-diagnostics, and more, all delivered in seconds. TruckSeries is integrated with Manager SE Truck Edition, Mitchell 1’s industry-leading truck shop management software that delivers an end-to-end solution for every step of the repair process. For additional information, call 888-724-6742 or visit https://mitchell1.com/truckseries. To find a local Mitchell 1 sales consultant, visit www.mitchellrep.com. Mitchell 1 is located in San Diego.

ATLANTA — Pressure Systems International (P.S.I.) unveiled TireView LIVE, its latest tire management tool, at the recent North American Commercial Vehicle. Jim Sharkey, vice president global sales and marketing and Jonathan Gravell, vice president of business development, explained how the newly-launched TireView LIVE tire analytics platform allows commercial fleet operators to see and analyze the health of their tires. Combined with its TireView TPMS product line, TireView LIVE delivers a major advantage of not only seeing tire health online and in real-time but the ability to view and analyze tire history, they said, noting this ability can be critical in evaluating whether immediate action must be taken, or if a repair can be scheduled at the end of the run. The advent of TireView LIVE is one results of fleets becoming increasingly sophisticated in tracking their tire costs to optimize their tire programs and reduce related costs because tires are  arguably the No. 1 opportunity to reduce costs and improve efficiencies. Reliance on drivers to monitor and report issues is completely reactive and largely ineffective, the P.S.I. officials said. TireView LIVE was developed to be the primary, fleet-wide solution for tire management and includes: Data Accumulation. TireView LIVE provides a data analytics platform that allows fleets to track and manage tire performance and provide fleet management the ability to compile historical data for pressure and temperature for their tires. Categorized Assets. Equipped vehicles can be grouped for optimized tire analytics, such as tractor vs. trailer, or long-haul vs. P&D. This ability provides increased accuracy of data to make it more understandable for effective decision making. User-Specified Alerts. The platform includes easily modified threshold settings for all parameters, for the entire fleet. There is no need to reset such alerts for individual vehicles. Notification Flexibility. Event types can be set individually or combined to generate a grid alert or email alerts to one or multiple recipients to optimize fleet management. They can also be sent via text messages to key people within an organization, such as various repair shops to generate work orders. Telematics Partners. P.S.I. is establishing telematics integration partners to collect data from the vehicles, and reduce telematics hardware, related fees, and typical platform sign-ins Independent Platform Updates. Updates and modifications to the TireView LIVE platform are made quickly and independently of the telematics platform. This means that fleets don’t have to wait for new versions to be rolled out. In addition to the introduction of TireView LIVE, P.S.I. presented their overall strategy to offer North American fleets full tire management solutions including automatic tire inflation and tire monitoring options to address individual fleet operations. “TireView LIVE is far more than a simple low-pressure alert.  It provides the entire story” Sharley said.  “The next opportunity for fleets to save money is to deliver real-time data to the office, where they can make faster and better-informed decisions, and let the driver focus on driving.” “Both Automatic Tire Inflation System and Tire Pressure Monitoring System solutions are largely reactionary in nature. TireView LIVE is the tool that allows fleets to get ahead of problems before they become mission-critical,” Gravell said.  “The ability for our customers to customize their tire management solutions from a single systems provider is increasingly important.  We are continuing to expand that product portfolio and industry partnerships.” To learn more about TireView LIVE, visit https://www.tireview.com/livetpms.

ELYRIA, Ohio — Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems said Wednesday that forthcoming Bendix Wingman Fusion upgrades in hardware and software will power new collision mitigation and driver assistance features, including Traffic Jam Assist, Highway Assist and Pedestrian/Cyclist Alerts, along with steering capabilities such as Lane Keeping Assist and Lane Centering. The new state-of-the-art components fully support SAE Level 2 driving functions, building on Bendix’s proven existing suite of technologies, laying the groundwork for future integration with Electronic Braking Systems (EBS), and enhancing driver, vehicle, and highway safety. The new capabilities are expected to be available in the next two years, according to TJ Thomas, Bendix director of marketing and customer solutions — Controls Group. Technology company and automotive supplier, Continental, supplies state-of-the-art radar and camera sensors for the solutions. “This is a major step along the pathway to more highly automated vehicles and represents the deepest, most effective integration to date of Fusion’s forward-facing camera, front and side radar units, and Bendix’s braking and steering systems,” Thomas said. “With significantly increased radar and camera performance — which also enables greatly enhanced object detection, including road signs — we improve all of Fusion’s existing features and unlock many more advanced functions, up to SAE Level 2, such as Highway Assist.” SAE level 2 is where the vehicle is able to control both the steering and acceleration/ deceleration ADAS capabilities. Although this allows the vehicle to automate certain parts of the driving experience, the driver remains in complete control of the vehicle at all times. Through a previously announced global partnership for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and a path to highly automated driving between Bendix’s parent company, the Knorr-Bremse Group, and Continental, the Bendix Wingman Fusion system will utilize state-of-the-art forward radar and camera units as well as a side-facing radar from Continental. Using sensors that are working together and not just in parallel, Fusion gathers input through the radar, video and the vehicle’s braking system, combining and cross-checking the information to create a highly detailed and accurate data picture surrounding the vehicle. “These are among the most capable radar and cameras in the North American commercial vehicle industry, and now we’re combining them with Bendix braking and steering technologies,” Thomas said. “Continental is delighted to contribute and to bring forward advanced driving assistance features for this key market as part of our cooperation with the Knorr-Bremse Group,” said Phil McEwen, who heads the Commercial Vehicle Customer Center for Continental North America. Next-generation Wingman Fusion’s Lane Centering will integrate the camera and steering systems to help keep a vehicle centered along a projected path of travel, while Lane Change Assist will monitor the sides of a tractor-trailer, relative to the lane markings. Side radar will also enable the Pedestrian/Cyclist Alerts and feedback. Highway Assist will engage when Fusion’s active cruise control with braking is set: The vehicle will not only maintain a distance with the forward vehicle — increasing safety — but will also track to near center, automatically, and follow to a defined trajectory to assist the truck and trailer to stay within the intended lane. The driver will need to have their hands on the wheel, but the system will reduce driver fatigue associated with micro-adjustments needed during normal driving activity. It is especially useful in light to moderate traffic where cut-ins and road curvatures can wear a driver down over a long day’s work. Building on Highway Assist, Traffic Jam Assist further helps the driver when traffic becomes heavy, as the system will help the driver steer and brake at low speeds when backed-up traffic causes slowdowns. Upcoming versions of Fusion will retain the capabilities of the system’s earlier versions: Stationary object alerts, overspeed alerts and intervention, lane departure warning, and prioritizing alerts to help reduce driver distraction. Fusion can also deliver enhanced rear-end collision mitigation and stationary vehicle braking, along with multilane automatic emergency braking, highway departure braking, ACB (active cruise with braking) Stop & Driver Go and ACB Auto-Resume. Fusion has the capacity to provide full braking power on the tractor, which — combined with earlier object detection — can help reduce a vehicle’s speed by as much as 50 miles per hour when encountering stationary and slower-moving vehicles. Lane Keeping Assist technology means that if a driver intends to change lanes while a vehicle is detected, Fusion will be able to deliver haptic feedback and steering resistance. Because it is built on the Bendix ESP Electronic Stability Program full-stability system, Bendix® Wingman Fusion also helps drivers avoid additional crash situations, including rollovers and loss-of-control. Event-based data — including video — can be wirelessly transmitted for driver coaching and analysis by fleet safety personnel. Bendix launched the Bendix Wingman family of collision mitigation solutions in 2009. Since then, ever-advancing Wingman technologies have become available through almost all major North American Class 5-8 truck manufacturers, achieving standard position on models at Kenworth Truck Co., Peterbilt Motors, Mack Trucks, Volvo Trucks North America, and International Trucks. Across North America, a growing number of fleets of varying size, location, and vocation spec Wingman Fusion, reporting significant reductions in rear-end collisions – as much as 90 percent – and decreased severity of those that did occur, Thomas said. SAE International’s Levels of Driving Automation standards characterize Level 2 automation as requiring human support in the driver’s seat: Safety support systems need to be monitored, and the driver must steer, brake, or accelerate as needed to maintain safety, even when technologies like lane centering and adaptive cruise control are simultaneously employed. “Even as we step into higher levels of commercial vehicle automation, there is no replacement for skilled, alert drivers practicing safe driving habits, and supported by proactive, ongoing driver training,” Thomas said. “Commercially available technologies, like Wingman Fusion, are meant to help prevent good drivers from having a bad day – and not to encourage or enable aggressive driving. Responsibility for the safe operation of any vehicle remains in the hands of the professional men and women behind the wheel and their dedication to safety.”

SANTA FE SPRINGS, Calif. — Phillips Industries has created what the company calls a breakthrough in interior lighting technology with its ultra-compact and high-output LEDs for dry vans. The light was unveiled at the Utility Trailers booth at the North American Commercial Vehicle show in Atlanta. The Phillips PERMALITE XB Corner Cargo Lamp is the first complete interior lighting solution designed specifically for dry vans and will be widely available in the market in November 2019. The new ultra-compact PERMALITE XB Corner Cargo Lamp can be easily retrofitted to the inside of a dry van because it does not require a ceiling pan or conduits. Up until now, interior lights were impractical in dry vans because of their thin roofs, so loading and unloading relied on flashlights, cell phone lights, or “porch lights” mounted on loading docks to see inside of the trailer.   Now, with Phillips PERMALITE XB Corner Cargo Lamps installed, dry vans can be fully illuminated while requiring very low power. “Corner lights are an exciting trend in the refrigerated trailer industry, which started several years back in Europe, said Steve Bennett of Utility Trailer. “They are ideal for multi temp applications, especially with multi-temp and center divide applications.  Low profile and high output provide an excellent light source for both refrigerated and dry van trailers.  They are also easily retrofitted.” The PERMALITE XB Corner Cargo Lamps have high power diodes, 1200 effective lumens, and can work with body-heat activated motion sensors.  The lamps are angled for best light projection over the load and floor, and the corner mounting protects them from potential damage.  The circuit boards have a waterproof coating to protect the lamps from moisture.  The design allows daisy-chaining the lamps to fully illuminate a trailer while minimizing voltage drop. For more information, visit www.phillipsind.com.  

ATLANTA — Mack Trucks Monday introduced the limited edition Mack Black Anthem, a special run of 500 Mack Anthem models that redefines what it means to operate in the black. Mack made the announcement during the North American Commercial Vehicle (NACV) show Oct. 28-31 in Atlanta. Featuring a blacked-out exterior trim package and additional interior features, the Mack Black Anthem gives customers the opportunity to make a bold statement while still realizing the business benefits that come from partnering with Mack, according to Jonathan Randall, Mack senior vice president, North American sales and marketing. “The limited-edition Mack Black Anthem screams power and performance like no other truck on the highway,” Randall said. “It’s a badass looking truck that puts our customers’ businesses in the black, thanks to the Anthem’s incredible fuel efficiency, together with our industry-leading uptime solutions and ever-strengthening Mack dealer support network.” In developing the Mack Black Anthem, designers started with a 70-inch stand-up sleeper model painted Mack Black and spec’d with Mack’s black exterior trim package. They then added a number of unique styling features, including a bold black Mack wordmark across the grille. Cab steps and deck plates are powder-coated in black, and flat black trim stripes are added to the air intakes on each side of the hood. Black mudflap brackets, black aluminum fuel tanks, Alcoa Durablack aluminum wheels and a limited-edition Anthem doorplate add to the distinctive look. Completing the exterior transformation of the Mack Black Anthem is a unique black Mack Bulldog ornament on the hood. “We showed a blacked-out concept at the launch of the Anthem in 2017 and received incredible feedback from drivers,” said Roy Horton, Mack Trucks director of product strategy. “We took their feedback, combined the unique exterior treatments with special interior features and created the Mack Black Anthem you see today.” The Mack Black Anthem interior begins with a blacked-out version of Mack’s Ultra interior trim level and adds special black wood accents to the dash and door panels, along with black-painted gauge bezels in the instrument cluster. The industry-first flat-bottomed black leather-wrapped steering wheel receives black spokes and gray stitching. The Sears Seating-developed seats are covered in black ultra-leather in a unique diamond-stitched pattern and also include an embroidered black Mack Bulldog logo on the headrest. The same diamond-stitched ultra-leather is also found on each door panel, as well as the sleeper cab’s side and rear wall trims. A limited edition Anthem dash plate is included as well. Each Mack Black Anthem also comes with a YETI cooler packed with commemorative memorabilia, including a custom Mack watch, a diecast Mack Black Anthem, a black Mack Bulldog keychain and more. The new limited-edition Mack Black Anthem is available for order now and limited to just 500 units.                

ATLANTA — Volvo Trucks North America Monday introduced the new Volvo VNR 660 truck model, expanding its offerings for regional-haul applications with specs related to length, weight and driver comfort. The new VNR 660 will be available for order in the first quarter of 2020. The announcement was made on October 28, 2019 at the North American Commercial Vehicle Show in Atlanta, Georgia. In the trucking industry, transport companies need to adjust their operations to accommodate regulations such as federal or state bridge laws, length laws or weight limitations, according to Chris Stadler, product marketing manager at Volvo Trucks North America, who said the new Volvo VNR 660 offers customers a way to increase payload capacity while still satisfying certain length and weight requirements, and also features a sleeper cab; a unique feature for truck models optimized for regional haul. “The new VNR 660 truck model addresses the needs of regional-haul customers looking for ways to increase payloads by decreasing the weight of the vehicle and enabling the use of longer trailer sizes without sacrificing efficiency,” Stadler said. “This new model also offers the comfort and extra space of a high-roof sleeper, increasing driver comfort.” The new Volvo VNR 660 features a shorter, 164-inch bumper to back-of-cab length that offers both weight savings from decreasing the overall size of the truck and the option to use more versatile tractor-trailer combinations for increased cargo capacity. As an extension of the Volvo VNR product line, Stadler said the new Volvo VNR 660 combines a high-roof configuration with a 61-inch sleeper that will comfortably accommodate an extra person for an overnight stop, making it ideal for local and regional routes that utilize team drivers. “There is ample room for a refrigerator, microwave and television with storage above the driver and passenger seats. The new VNR 660 is available with the Volvo Premier Trim package, which includes wood-grain trim for the dash and cabinetry,” said. Other advantages of the new Volvo VNR 660, Stadler said, include the shorter hood design of the VNR product line, providing optimized visibility for the driver and excellent maneuverability in urban areas and easy docking in tight spaces. The new truck model comes standard with the Volvo D11 engine, the Volvo I-Shift transmission and Volvo Active Driver Assist (VADA) 2.0, the recently updated comprehensive collision mitigation system. “At Volvo Trucks, it’s critical for us to understand our customers’ businesses and deliver solutions that increase their operational efficiency,” said Stadler. “In addition to a truck that meets application-specific needs, our regional-haul customers want improved living environments inside the cab to attract and maintain professional drivers. The new VNR 660 certainly accomplishes those objectives.”        

ATLANTA — Mack Trucks said Monday that Bendix Wingman Fusion with enhanced features is now available on its Mack Anthem and Mack Pinnacle models. The camera- and radar-based driving assistance solution helps mitigate the potential for accidents, improving highway safety for travelers on the roadway, according to Roy Horton, director of product strategy for Mack Trucks. Mack made the announcement during the 2019 North American Commercial Vehicle show October 28-31 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. Now in its second generation, Bendix Wingman Fusion offers collision mitigation, adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning. The enhanced version improves Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), lane-keeping support, multi-lane continuation of AEB and driver awareness support. “Mack is a strong believer in implementing technology to increase safety on our highways,” Horton said. “The enhanced version of Bendix Wingman Fusion offers additional support, helping the driver effectively maneuver down the road when unforeseen events could occur.” According to Bendix, the improved Wingman Fusion system is an active safety feature that offers audible warnings and AEB to help maintain a safe following distance from the vehicle in front of the truck. AEB in the new Wingman Fusion system can now reduce traveling speeds from up  to 50 mph instead of 35 mph being the limit. Using a radar sensor inset into the front bumper to detect the angle, distance and speed of the front object, along with a windshield-mounted camera, the system monitors large metallic objects and can detect them from a range of 22 degrees wide and about 500 feet in front of the truck. “Thanks to the combination of radar and camera sensors, Wingman Fusion is very effective in conditions that affect visibility, such as rain, smoke, fog or snow,” Horton said. “The camera also helps when objects are not easily identified or are not detected by radar, providing a second level of safety.” Also with Bendix Wingman Fusion, audible and visual warnings are enacted if a stationary metallic object is detected ahead. Brakes will be applied if the truck’s speed is above 15 mph, whether or not cruise control is engaged. The driver will be notified up to 3.5 seconds before impact, and if the driver doesn’t take action, brakes will engage. New multi-lane continuation of AEB enables the driver to change to an adjacent lane to avoid a potential forward collision, and as long as AEB is active, the system will apply the brakes if another vehicle is detected. Lane departure assistance alerts the driver during unintentional lane deviation. The enhanced version continues with audible warnings if the driver does not take corrective action. Bendix Wingman Fusion is installed at Lehigh Valley Operations in Macungie, Pennsylvania, where all Mack truck models for North America and export are assembled.        

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. —    Truck-Lite Co., LLC, a producer of LED lighting, telematics, engine protection, safety and visibility systems is supplying its Road Ready trailer telematics system as an option on all 2020 East Manufacturing flatbed, dump and refuse trailers.  The system, customizable for any fleet requirement, provides a wireless, multi-functional trailer monitoring network. The new trailer models will come with the option of a Master Control Unit (MCU), which sends regular updates to the Road Ready user interface and provides real-time location via GPS. Data plans and additional sensors will be available through Truck-Lite. Trailers will feature the hardwired MCU, a Light-Out Detection System nose-box and an ABS warning sensor. Other equipment will include a tire pressure monitoring system, tire inflation system and wheel-end monitor system. All systems will be compatible with Truck-Lite’s Road Ready, LED lighting and 99 series harness systems, all of which are also featured on flatbed trailers. Jon Stineman, vice president of OEM sales for Truck-Lite said that his company has a long relationship with East Manufacturing in the areas of harness and lighting systems. Truck-Lite’s 99 Series harness system has been standard on four models of East trailers since 2018, said Dave Kinsley, vice president of purchasing for East Manufacturing. The system provides a secure connection using a clamp/mounting bracket combination that wraps around the width of the plug. The connection provides pin alignment and a positive lock. Together, these features are designed to improve the overall durability of a trailer’s electrical system, Kinsley noted. For more information, visit the Road Ready and East Manufacturing websites.

LISLE, Ill. — Innovations in International Truck’s 2020 on-highway lineup will provide customers with the enhanced fuel efficiency and improved uptime that are critical to their business. “International Truck has made strides forward by listening to what drives our customers’ businesses,” said Michael Cancelliere, president, truck, Navistar. “And with this understanding, we’re delivering new offerings and enhancements with greater impact than ever before.” Cancelliere said the International LT and RH Series on-highway vehicles are benefiting from advances in aerodynamics, powertrain and software systems that are increasing fuel efficiency in the 2020 product lineup. Fuel efficiency improvement for the LT Series will be up to 8.2%, when comparing a fully equipped 2020 model to a unit built just one year earlier. Aerodynamics can contribute 50% to overall fuel efficiency, so it is critical to reduce aerodynamic drag. Aerodynamic advances offered for 2020 include: Enhanced roof fairing Day cab extenders that are 12 inches longer, closing the tractor-trailer gap Sleeper cab extenders are 3 inch longer, reducing the tractor-trailer gap Steering wheel closeouts around the front tires Longer chassis skirt Vidon strips, which enhance aerodynamics and are damage resistant New cab-to-skirt closeouts to further reduce wind drag 1-inch lower bumper valence Flow Below 2.0 design, optimized for the International LT Series “Keeping the airflow ‘attached’ to the vehicle can result in smoother airflow around the vehicle, reducing turbulence that can increase drag and decrease fuel efficiency,” said Chet Ciesielski, vice president, on-highway business, Navistar. “That’s why International has introduced a range of aerodynamic features to help improve customers’ profitability.” Both the International Fuel Efficiency MPG Aerodynamic and Powertrain packages have been updated to reflect these latest innovations maximizing customers’ fuel efficiency. Ciesielski said powerful, reliable big-bore engines are also critical to fuel efficiency and uptime. Today, 60% of the Top 10 dedicated contract carriers are operating the International LT Series powered by the International A26 engine, which has been delivering optimal uptime and fuel efficiency in a lightweight design since its launch in early 2017, he said. “As a testament to their positive experience, many early A26 customers are returning to purchase additional LT Series trucks powered by A26 engines,” Ciesielski said. “The A26 engine has logged millions of miles hauling customer products, proving to customers that it is delivering on the company’s uptime promise.” In addition, improvements in the Cummins X15 engine used in the LT Series 2020 models will yield 2.8% better fuel efficiency over earlier versions of the Cummins X15. Ciesielski said an added tool in the pursuit of improved fuel efficiency is Predictive Cruise Control, which is now standard on the 2020 LT Series, the RH Series and the International LoneStar. The system allows drivers to set an average cruise speed, and the customer to define an allowable range above and below that average. The vehicle will then use topographical map data with the onboard GPS to adjust vehicle speed for maximum fuel efficiency and reduced foundation brake wear. With Predictive Cruise Control, and using the International A26 engine, drivers can anticipate an average of 2% savings in fuel efficiency, based on a 50/50 mix of flat and hilly terrain, Ciesielski said. “Expert drivers save fuel by managing the vehicle’s speed, engine load and vehicle weight, as well as the road grade,” he said. “With Predictive Cruise Control, drivers gain valuable assistance in managing these factors for improved fuel efficiency.” Remote engine calibration using cellular is now included in new LT series and RH series models. Remote engine calibration updates using a cellular connection are a critical tool in improving vehicle uptime. The updates allow customers to keep their engines operating with peak performance and fuel efficiency without returning to home base or stopping at a dealer location for an update. New International LT and International RH Series trucks now in production, equipped with an International A26 engine, include the capability to make remote cellular over-the-air updates to authorized engine calibrations and programmable parameters. “This innovation builds on International’s pioneering introduction of over-the-air calibration using a WiFi signal,” Ciesielski said. “Remote programming of engine parameters enables customers to control factors that deliver performance, safety and efficiency.”      

STUTTGART and BERLIN, Germany — Daimler Trucks and Buses said Friday it was pursuing a sustainable corporate strategy that aims to offer only new vehicles that are CO2-neutral in driving operation (“tank-to-wheel”) in the triad markets of Europe, Japan and NAFTA countries by 2039. Already by 2022, the company said it plans to include series-produced vehicles with battery-electric drive in its vehicle portfolio in its main sales regions Europe, the United States and Japan. By the end of the next decade, Daimler Trucks and Buses said it will will extend its range of vehicles with hydrogen-powered series production vehicles. Just this week Daimler Trucks and Buses said it celebrated the world premiere of the FUSO brand fuel-cell prototype “Vision F-Cell” at the Tokyo Motor Show in Japan, thus further strengthening its activity in the hydrogen field. In addition, all European Daimler Trucks & Buses plants will be CO2-neutral by the year 2022. All other plants will follow. “At Daimler Trucks and Buses we are clearly committed to the goals of the Paris Climate Protection Agreement and thus to the decarbonization of our industry. Having CO2-neutral transport on the road by 2050 is our ultimate goal,” said Martin Daum, member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, responsible for Trucks and Buses, during his keynote address Friday at the International Supply Chain Conference in Berlin.” This can only be achieved if competitive conditions for CO2-neutral transport are created for our customers in terms of costs and infrastructure. As it takes about ten years to completely renew a fleet until 2050, our ambition is to offer ‘tank-to-wheel’ locally CO2-neutral new vehicles in the triad by the year 2039. Truly CO2-neutral transport only works with battery-electric or hydrogen-based drive. We were the first manufacturer to seriously commit to electromobility in heavy trucks and, today, are pioneers and in all segments with electric vehicles in customer use. With our holistic approach to e-mobility in the bus sector, which consists of an electric city bus and consulting, we are already making a significant contribution to the locally emission-free public transport of the future and air pollution control in urban areas.” Daum said locally CO2-neutral trucks and buses won’t sell themselves, because even in 2040 — despite all efforts by manufacturers — the acquisition and total cost of ownership of trucks and buses with electric drives will be still higher than for diesel vehicles. “We therefore need government incentives to make locally CO2-neutral trucks and buses competitive,” Daum said. “Particularly necessary: converting and staggering tolls Europe-wide based on CO2 values whereby CO2-neutral vehicles would get significant relief, a targeted subsidy program for buses and for a nationwide charging and hydrogen infrastructure as well as uniform standards for the transport and refueling of hydrogen.” Daum said Daimler Trucks has been gaining experience with electric trucks since 2010 and since 2017 has had its first small series-produced all-electric truck on the market and in customers’ hands: the Fuso eCanter light-duty truck. More than 140 eCanter are already in customer service in cities worldwide, including New York City, Tokyo, Berlin, London, Amsterdam, Paris and Lisbon. The Mercedes-Benz eActros heavy-duty truck, with a range of up to 200 km, is in intensive use by customers in Germany and Switzerland as part of the eActros “innovation fleet”. The first hand-off to a customer was in 2018. In the United States, the medium-duty Freightliner eM2 and the heavy-duty Freightliner eCascadia are also undergoing intensive field tests with customers. Daum said Daimler has been working on drive technologies based on hydrogen for more than 30 years. “To date the company’s fuel cell vehicles have traveled many millions of kilometers, demonstrating the marketability of this drive concept,” he said. “Still, there are very specific challenges in the commercial vehicle sector, such as service life and payload availability. Battery-electric and hydrogen-drive technologies offer different benefits depending on the purpose and therefore complement each other. The decisive criterion for truck and bus customers is the total cost of ownership.”

FENTON, Mich. – Webasto North America, a provider of equipment and vehicle heating and cooling solutions, introduced a new Thermo Top Evo coolant heater. The coolant heater is the latest engine-off heating technologies from Webasto, operating from diesel fuel drawn from the vehicle’s primary fuel tank. “By using the Webasto Thermo Top Evo pre-heater, fleets can save fuel by reducing idling time, warming engines so they start easier and by avoiding extended engine warm-up times,” Don Kanneth, aftermarket sales director for Webasto North America, said. He stated that the Thermo Top Evo helps decrease fleet maintenance by reducing the strain on emission control devices. According to Kanneth, the Thermo Top Evo provides for flexible installation, intuitive diagnoses and features a quiet heater and fuel delivery system. With its 8,600–17,200 BTU/h (2.5–5.0 kW) range and ultra-low power consumption, the new coolant heater can pre-heat a variety of vehicles from light-duty commercial vehicles to heavy-duty trucks. “The Thermo Top Evo’s compact size and features make for easy installation, even in vehicles with limited space. For instance, the coolant inlet and outlet ports on top of the heater rotate 180 degrees, offering flexibility when routing coolant lines,” Kanneth said. The unit comes with a long fuel line, universal controller harness and mounting bracket. It operates at a high combustion air temperature, allowing flexibility when mounting in an engine compartment. The pre-heater also allows drivers to read simple fault codes at the controller and make necessary adjustments while on the road. It can be controlled manually or programmed to engage so the engine is warm when the driver arrives. “Idling the tractor to warm the engine is not just inefficient; it creates a significant amount of noise pollution,” Kanneth said. He stated the new heater reduces noise by 20% over an engine at idle and decreases engine wear, fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. A pre-heater can deliver a fast ROI by reducing fuel costs and DPF maintenance. For more information visit: www.webasto.com      

ROCHELLE PARK, N.J. — ORBCOMM a global provider of Machine-to-Machine (M2M) and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, said Thursday its electronic logging device is now available in Spanish and French-Canadian versions, expanding its market reach to fleet customers in new geographic regions. ORBCOMM’s ELD provides complete visibility, monitoring and management of drivers, vehicles and displays, helping fleets improve safety records, increase productivity, reduce operating costs, drive up fuel efficiency and help retain drivers, according to Craig Malone, ORBCOMM’s executive vice president of product development. The ORBCOMM ELD is an Android-based in-cab device with 4G LTE connectivity built on the company’s industry-leading BT 500 hardware and integrated with FleetManager, its robust, Cloud-based analytics and reporting platform. ORBCOMM’s driver-friendly ELD solution has an intuitive and easy-to-learn interface, which automates Hours of Service calculations, alerts the driver when available hours are running low and advises on options to maximize remaining hours. Other features of the ORBCOMM ELD include advanced messaging capabilities that improve communication between drivers and office staff, the ability to design custom data entry forms and use form messages and text-to-speech functionality for safety. Malone said dedicated online HOS and exceptions workspaces along with real-time HOS and duty graphs for drivers eliminate issues like unassigned miles with a few clicks. Built on an open, scalable platform, the ORBCOMM ELD also enables customers to easily add third-party applications, store and view documents, capture signatures and send high-resolution images for added efficiency. “As a global IoT company, we are committed to meeting the evolving needs of our customers around the world, and our new Spanish and French-Canadian ELD models offer ORBCOMM a unique competitive edge in incremental geographic markets,” Malone said.  “Our new Spanish ELD is being utilized by fleets in Latin America as well as in the U.S., while our North American cross-border carrier customers are leveraging our French-Canadian ELD, which not only helps fleets with French-speaking drivers but also ensures compliance with the Canadian ELD Mandate effective in June 2021.” For more information, visit www.orbcomm.com.