Paccar committed to self-driving commercial vehicles

US truck manufacturer Paccar says it is committed to developing self-driving commercial vehicles for its customers.

Paccar took the opportunity to display three vehicles with autonomous and alternative powertrain technologies at the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

On display at Paccar’s both were a Level-4 autonomous Kenworth T680; a battery-electric Peterbilt Model 520EV; and a battery-electric Kenworth K270E.

Peterbilt and Kenworth designed these trucks for a range of customer applications, including over-the-road goods transportation, refuse collection and urban distribution.

Paccar Innovation Centre general manager Stephan Olsen says the Silicon Valley-based operation has become a central player in the truck innovation ecosystem.

“Peterbilt and Kenworth are the clear trucks of choice among the leading independent autonomous driving technology developers. We look forward to deepening our productive partnerships with these innovative companies in the future,” says Olsen.

Peterbilt Model 520EV battery-electric trucks are currently being field tested by customers. The trucks quietly collect refuse on residential and commercial routes, operating a full day on a single charge.

Peterbilt expects to deliver Model 520EV trucks to customers in 2021.

The battery-electric Kenworth K270E is a medium-duty commercial vehicle with range options between 100 and 200 miles, ideal for local pickup and delivery operations. Kenworth expects to deliver K270E trucks to customers in 2020.

“These advanced technology Kenworth and Peterbilt vehicles are environmentally-friendly and enhance our customers’ operations,” says Paccar chief technology officer Kyle Quinn.

“Paccar is investing in next-generation technologies across its portfolio of industry-leading transportation solutions. We are delighted to return to CES this year to showcase our innovative autonomous and alternative powertrain trucks,” he says.