Attending ACT Expo each year offers me a window into the future of clean transportation.  As I have attended now for the past 5 years, each and every show changes to reflect the direction in which transportation as a whole is headed.  This year it was made crystal clear from the moment the keynote address opened up the event, where President and CEO of Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) Roger Nielsen gave his speech supporting the commitment of the company towards the future of battery electric trucks.  The show floor reflected much of the same, with electric transportation ranging from cars to full class 8 trucks being displayed in their all-electric forms.  As the show's focus has apparently shifted from CNG and Fuel Cell technology, to an emphasis on electric, there was still a good amount of vendors reflecting those technologies as well.  It is safe to say that the journey to clean transportation will be multi-faceted, but Roger Nielsen also made it known that this is the beginning of the end for the era of the internal combustion engine!  Fast developments in battery electric have me a believer in this statement and having driven the new eCascadia myself, I have no doubt this truck will one day soon meet the goals of my own fleet and be in line with what alternative fuel clean transportation aims at for an ultimate goal!  With that being said, here is a little "pictures are worth 1,000 words" view into some of the great things I scoped out this year while attending ACT Expo 2019!

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Comments (2)

Jimmy Nevarez

Jimmy Nevarez is the Owner/President of Angus Transportation, Inc., based in Chino, California.  Jimmy pulls a 53' dry van hauling general dry freight for his own small fleet, operating on its own authority throughout all of Southern California and Southern Nevada.

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You are correct from what I’ve experienced, in that the traditional transmission is gone as well as a traditional “Jake Brake”. There is a speed retarder however in the one I’ve driven that works well. I was amazed with the smooth operation and ease of learning the basic controls when I drove, but as with any new tech, it will take adjustment and education to truly master it for any driver once it is abundant. If you ever get a chance, I highly recommend trying to drive one of the Freightliner eTrucks, as the experience made me a believer that it can and will be here quicker than most think!

May 11, 2019 21:48:47 PM

Have a question about the electric drive tractors. Have heard they operate without the use of a geared transmission. This has got to seriously affect the driving style, no Jake brake, no downshift for downgrades, etc.
Is this true? And how do they compensate for the usual adjustments to wheel speed. Looking at the difference in winter driving, as well.

May 11, 2019 7:41:01 AM