Another trend on display was powertrain electrification. Manufacturers such as Ford®, Chevrolet®, Cummins®, Morgan Olson®, Freightliner®, Odyne®, and others used the show to debut hybrid and all-electric vehicles. Other manufacturers took the opportunity to showcase new electronic equipment and accessories, leveraging cutting edge technology to help improve safety and maneuverability.
I was particularly impressed by a company called Odyne®. Its powertrain system allows owners of medium and heavy duty truck models to convert from standard diesel internal combustion engines (ICE) to plug-in hybrid, with no engine modifications. The system uses high voltage, 11.7 kWh or 23.4 kWh lithium ion batteries running in parallel with transmission. Not only does it allow for launch assist and regenerative braking like a traditional hybrid vehicle, but it also allows the trucks hydraulic system to run directly off the electric motor, thus stopping needless engine idling to run the trucks hydraulic accessories.
Similarly impressive, a company called Motiv Power Systems is producing an all-electric chassis. Powered by Lithium ion batteries and built on the popular Ford® E-450 and F-59 strip chassis platforms, it can be built up into an urban delivery truck/shuttle bus/work truck.
As my time at The Work Truck Show® came to close, it was evident that just as powertrain electrification is a trend in the automotive industry, it is also gaining a foothold in commercial medium and heavy duty vehicles. Avery Dennison Performance Tapes offers solutions across our portfolio to help converters respond to this trend. These include electric harness solutions, battery pack adhesives, AFB gasketing, NVH dampening products, and more. It will be interesting to see what the future holds in this ever-changing industry.