Video: Etrucks introduces NZ’s first battery swap vehicle
New Zealand distributor Etrucks has brought the first battery swap electric vehicle into the country.
The XCMG-manufactured E700 6×4 semi-tractor has a 50-tonne gross combination mass and is set to target the heavy metro segment, particularly in transport on and off wharves.
Etrucks director Ross Linton says the vehicle is currently an exhibition model with another unit set to arrive around July which will be put to the test with potential customers.
He says the battery swap concept offers a lot of opportunity to cut costs and save time for operators.
A battery can be swapped using a gantry system in around five minutes. The battery can also be charged on truck if required in around two hours.
“Electric trucks are expensive, double the cost of a diesel truck, and you can’t afford to have them standing around,” Linton explains.
“With the battery swap, you can have them returned to service fully charged and utilised as they should be.”
Linton says there is the potential the batteries could be leased through power companies and there has been some interest in a battery-as-a-service model.
The concept could deliver considerable cost savings for transport operators with the battery accounting for around 40% of the price of an electric truck.
“We see this as a breakthrough for metro and short haul heavy trucks. With enough battery swap stations intercity and then longer haul will be possible.
“As the battery is quick to swap, it needn’t be too big. This overcomes some of the freight capacity loss that is inevitable with larger fixed batteries,” Linton says.
There are now 500 units of E700 8×4 battery swapping tippers in use in China. The first 300 units of the 6×4 battery swapping tractors are now in Turpan for a large scale trial of the concept.
The trucks have a theoretical range of around 140km at 50% loading on the highway and up to 180km in metro applications. More details on the range will soon be available after further testing, Linton says.
The trucks deliver peak power of 360kW and 2800Nm of peak torque and use a six-speed tiptronic transmission.
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Mr Linton, in stating that ETrucks are so much more expensive, is not taking into consideration the much greater expense of maintaining an ICE and all it’s hundreds more moving parts. I fear that the price tag, initial expense, is the usual handy way to avoid and justify not transitioning to a sustainable means of transport. I have a Tesla and in 4 years I have only needed to buy new tyres and wheel alignment, no other maintenance.
Great = Cant wait to see a Battery Swap system available for E/Cars. I own a Leaf and it is great but wonder what will be available when I need a new battery…. My Battery is not able to be charged much above 180=190 units now.