Paccar has started working on pure electric trucks. The new class 8 electric trucks won't be limited by a diesel powertrain and a complex exhaust system. The new trucks will be very safe for the environment. The trucks will be fully electric. With the rate of growth of technology, all this is possible.

Hank Johnson stated that coming up with suitable designs is not easy. Joe Adams told Transport Topics that the journey would take some while to achieve fully. Customers must be patient till around 2030. He added that they had begun their plans to move towards zero-emission tractors. Adams reiterated that people would see the project evolve and grow.

Kenworth is working on having a platform that would operate on an electric powertrain. It would be powered by batteries or a hydrogen fuel cell. The initial steps are all about what the trucks would look like. The trucks will run on several advanced technologies. The technologies include zero-emission and self-driving capabilities. Autonomy will highly help cover the driver shortages.

Trucks with driver's cab in initial stages

Adams stated that the lack of an internal combustion engine and driveline would make the design process somehow easier. The trucks will still have a driver's cab in the initial stages. But the trucks will still need drivers to dock them. The trucks will also have steps for getting in and out. They will have headlights and bumpers in compliance with the laws.

The trucks' design will be more flexible than those that run on diesel. Battery and hydrogen storage are of various shapes and specifications, allowing for flexibility. Some companies have tried to build these electric trucks from scratch. Others prefer improving on the existing designs. All the same, designing the trucks from scratch is quite challenging.

Even Tesla had its challenges coming up with the prototypes. There are many federal requirements for the design. All manufacturers must comply with them to go ahead with such projects. They must follow and execute all the fine details. The trucks will be more efficient. They won't have emission systems and will produce less heat.

Smart trucks will revolutionize the industry. Technology is ever-growing. And with it, some changes will make the industry even better. Zero-emission trucks will be very friendly to the environment. It will also be a requirement in the future. Therefore, the industry is headed in the right direction as far as compliance is concerned.