DHL puts 50 Orange EV yard trucks to work, plans to add 50 more
DHL was the first major company to put an all-electric class 8 yard truck into service in 2015. Now, DHL has 50 electric yard trucks from Orange EV in its logistics fleet, with plans to fully phase out diesel trucks by 2025.
Whether you call them terminal trucks, yard dogs, mules, or anything else, these heavy-duty trucks do work that’s ideally suited to electrification. It’s all low-speed, extreme-torque, short distance, high-precision operation, all the time. And the quiet, vibration-free, instant power operation of electric drive is in its element. DHL knows this better than most, which is why the company has electric yard trucks currently deployed at more than 30 DHL Supply Chain sites across the US – all part of DHL’s goal to both phase out diesel trucks by 2025 and reducing logistics-related carbon emissions to net zero by 2050.
“We cannot ignore the impact our operations have on the environment as a logistics company and therefore we are committed to implementing more sustainable approaches to doing business,” explains Stephan Schablinski, VP of “GoGreen” initiatives at DHL Supply Chain. “Through partnerships with companies like Orange EV we have been able to develop innovative solutions that reimagine the industry of logistics and take us closer to a green future.”
It’s worth noting, too, that the those first electric yard trucks DHL put into service back in 2015. Affectionally dubbed “Sparky I” and “Sparky II,” the electric semi trucks have individually clocked more than 24,000 hours and 17,000 hours of operation. What’s more: they’re still on their original battery packs.
“DHL Supply Chain’s first two Orange EV orders are a great example of how we work together to right-size a fleet’s EV projects to economically meet site specifications and rigorous duty cycles,” says Kurt Neutgens, Orange EV co-founder, President, and CTO. “DHL Supply Chain first purchased an Extended Duty truck and charger … and DHL’s well-trained, committed team maximized opportunity charging to keep both trucks running at peak efficiency.”
DHL Supply Chain announced plans to double its current electric yard truck fleet last month – a move that would bring them to 100 all-electric Orange EV class 8 trucks and 0 diesels over the next two years.
Electrek’s Take
There was a line in Orange EV’s press release that’s been playing “on repeat” in my head since I read it. “Diesel yard trucks which are often used just 5 years or 15,000 hours before maintenance and repair costs become prohibitively expensive,” it reads. “In its deployed fleet, Orange EV currently has 35 trucks exceeding 15,000 hours of operation – 14 of which have surpassed 20,000 hours – with many more that will cross those thresholds soon.”
I called Mike Switzer, my co-host on The Heavy Equipment Podcast and a fleet manager who’s tracked thousands of assets in his twenty-plus years in the industry, and asked him if that sounded right.
“Here’s the thing,” he said. “Typically, on-road fleets are tracked in miles. We do oil changes every 5-10,000 miles and try to maintain a 400-500,000 overhaul on the heavy equipment trucks. That’s barring clutch replacements, if needed, stuff that gets messed up. Now, with the automated manuals, a lot of that goes out the window and it all makes it to the rebuild point where we down the truck (hopefully scheduled) between 400 and 500,000 miles, so 15,000 hours you’re right there. Obviously a heavy haul places a bigger toll on the powertrain vs. someone that’s pulling general freight, but some of the general freight guys are going 900,000 or even a million miles on an engine just because of the work load. That’s not to say there’s not a place for electric, there definitely is and I think the yards and ports are a great place for it, but I wouldn’t say that 15,000 hours is any kind of real limit.”
Some quick, back-of-the napkin math tells me that 15,000 hours times an average 30 MPH would put us at 450,000 miles. Right in Mike’s 400-500,000 mile rebuild window, in other words. Admittedly, 30 MPH is high for a terminal truck, but the constant heavy load stop-and-go nature of a yard truck’s day to day more than makes up the difference in my view … and the fact that we’re talking about trucks that are coming up on 9 years of continuous heavy duty operation on the original batteries?
EVs can’t get a much better endorsement than that.
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China’s BYD is launching its cheapest electric car in Europe next year. Ahead of its official debut, BYD’s $10K Seagull EV is already creating a stir among foreign rivals.
BYD is on a roll. Earlier this year, it declared a “liberation battle” against gas-powered vehicles and launched its cheapest EV, the Seagull Honor Edition.
Starting at $9,700 (69,80 yuan), BYD’s new Seagull EV is already stoking fear among rivals. Powered by BYD’s Blade batteries, the electric car is available in 30.08 kWh and 38.88 kWh models, which provide up to 190 miles (305 km) and 252 miles (405 km) CLTC range, respectively.
The low-cost EV earned the nickname “mini Lamborghini” as former Lamborghini designer Wolfgang Egger led the project.
Despite its affordable price tag, the Seagull’s interior features a 10.1″ rotating center screen with an otherwise minimalist design. Users can also interact and play media with DiLink’s intelligent network.
BYD’s Seagull is available in three trims in China. The base (Active) starts under $10K (69,800 yuan). The Free trim starts at $10,500 (75,800 yuan), while the range-topping Flying model costs $12,000 (85,800 yuan).
BYD’s $10K Seagull EV causing a stir among rivals
Terry Woychowski, former GM executive and president of automotive at Caresoft Global, called BYD’s low-cost Seagull a potential “clarion call for the rest of the industry” earlier this year.
Caresoft, an engineering and consulting firm, looks at every vehicle component to determine how it can be improved for its clients. After testing the Seagull, the company said it was simple and efficiently designed. More importantly, Caresoft was surprised by the electric car’s quality and reliability.
“What they do is done very well,” Woychowski said, “It’s efficiently done. BYD has already launched the Seagull in overseas markets, including Brazil.
The affordable EV is creating a stir among rivals. Ford CEO Jim Farley called it a “pretty damn good” car. Meanwhile, Martin Sander, head of Ford’s European EV unit, said, “Of course, we are nervous when new competition is coming to the market.”
Sold under the name Dolphin Mini, BYD’s low-cost electric car starts at around $20,000 (99,800 BRL) in Brazil, undercutting most of the competition.
In Mexico, it starts at $19,780 (358,800 pesos). Although Mexico “is not great for us,” according to BYD Americas CEO Stella Li. Li explained, “In the end we found a lot of demand, a lot of heat” for the Seagull.
Now, BYD aims even higher. Next year, it will launch the Seagull EV in Europe to compete with VW, Stellantis, and others on its home turf.
Despite tariffs, BYD expects the Seagull to start at less than 20,000 euros ($21,500). That’s still thousands lower than its rivals.
And BYD isn’t stopping there. The EV maker plans to launch a higher-end 25,000 euro ($27,000) electric car, according to European managing director Michael Shu. In addition, with two plants planned in the region, BYD expects to overcome the potential impacts of EU tariffs on China-made EVs.
Electrek’s Take
Although several automakers have recently announced plans to launch affordable EVs, BYD is already on top of the market.
With BYD’s $10K Seagull EV rolling out globally, rivals are bracing for the impact. Other automakers, like Ford and Kia, have shifted plans to focus on smaller, more affordable EVs to keep up with demand.
Meanwhile, although BYD is best known for its low-cost electric cars, the automaker is expanding into new segments.
BYD launched the Sea Lion 07, a mid-size electric SUV set to rival Tesla’s best-selling Model Y. Starting at $26,250 (189,800 yuan), the new electric SUV undercuts the Model Y, which starts at $34,550 (249,900) in China.
The company is also launching a series of high-end luxury vehicles under its Yangwang brand. In February, the brand launched its first electric supercar, the U9, starting at $233,400 (1,680,000 yuan).
Yangwang’s first vehicle, the U8 off-roader, made its European debut at the Geneva International Motor Show in February.
BYD also launched its first pickup, the Shark PHEV, last week in Mexico, which will rival Toyota’s best-selling Hilux and Ford’s Ranger.
Source: Bloomberg
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Environment
Gravity to implement 500 kW EV charger ‘trees’ on US streets to grow network larger than Tesla’s
NY-based startup and EV infrastructure specialist Gravity has launched a new line of universal EV charger “trees” it hopes will bring convenient charging sessions curbside on city streets. The deployment will start modestly, but Gravity is targeting a street charging network that is ” more expansive than Tesla’s current Supercharger network.”
Gravity Inc. is a startup focused on sustainable fleets and the infrastructure required to operate them efficiently. In 2021, Gravity began rolling out a fleet of all-electric Mustang Mach-E yellow cabs around New York City while partnering with building owners and parking operators to implement electric vehicle charging infrastructure to support individual drivers and large EV fleets.
At that time, Gravity was already teasing plans to open the “only true fast-charging site in Manhattan” to support the taxis and local EV owners. In October 2023, Gravity released a full suite of 500kW EV chargers, some of the fastest we’ve seen.
This technology caught the eye of Google Ventures (GV), which led to a successful seed funding round for an undisclosed amount a month later. Since then, Gravity has been able to roll out dozens of UL-Listed EV chargers in the US and made good on its word to open access to 24 500kW EV chargers at a new “Gravity Charging Center” opened this past March—hailing the piles as the fastest in the United States.
The charging center operates out of a Manhattan parking garage in which Gravity mounted its 500kW Distributed Energy Access Points (DEAPs) to the ceiling above existing parking spaces. Today, Gravity announces it has adapted its DEAP EV chargers into “trees” that can be easily installed curbside to make charging even faster and more convenient for city drivers.
Gravity is rolling out EV charger “trees” in the US
The startup shared details of its latest EV charger rollout today, which includes 200kW and 500kW distributed energy access points as part of a universal on-street cable and mounting system.
These EV charging trees have a hinged swing arm that houses a cable that pivots down for curbside sessions. This offers local drivers easy access from the street, no matter their make, model, or port location. When a charging session is completed, the arm raises automatically, and the EV connector latches back onto the pole, out of sight and out of the way for passersby to trip over.
Gravity engineers worked alongside design firm Rangr Studio to develop the EV charger trees to alleviate issues some curbside chargers face around the globe. However, the network of this particular type of charger remains relatively small in the US, at least for now.
Given such a small scale in North America, Gravity believes even a modest rollout of its new EV charger trees will help it become the largest fast-charging network in the US. The startup boldly said that its goal is to expand the DEAP footprint to one day be more prominent than Tesla’s Supercharger network – one of the most prominent and dependable in the country. Gravity Inc.’s founder and CEO Moshe Cohen elaborated:
Right now, American cities are choosing the curbside charging that drivers will use for decades to come. Unfortunately, many are looking to obsolete overnight Level 2 charging with cables that clutter sidewalks and that don’t fit the needs of urban EV drivers. EV drivers require and deserve so much better. We took up the challenge of making every aspect of the on-street charging experience faster and better and can’t wait to deploy our new DEAP Trees by the thousands. With even partial adoption by American cities, this product alone could quickly become the largest fast charging network in America, eclipsing even the Supercharger network.
Similar to the parking garage infrastructure in New York, Gravity’s EV charger trees do not require any utility upgrades for installation and can deliver up to 200 miles of range in 13 minutes on a 200kW charger or 5 minutes on a 500kW charger. These rates are far faster than the Tesla Superchargers currently operating around NYC, which deliver charge rates between 72kW and 150kW.
Both EV charger tree systems deliver 1,000V and are bidirectional-ready, offering future opportunities to send access energy back to city grids. Look for EV charger trees curbside, especially in New York City, and let us know if you spot one!
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