Projects

TransPower Vertically-integrated Manufacturing Facility Feasibility Study for Class 8 Trucks

TransPower is conducting study and performance tests to determine the feasibility of a Vertically-Integrated Facility for Electric Truck Manufacturing (VIFET). The VIFET project goal is to develop an integrated manufacturing process that will be used at a new manufacturing facility for large Class 8 electric trucks in Southern California by January 2013. Transpower’s plan is to co-locate the operations of at least four key companies in the electric truck supply chain, enabling three stages of the electric truck manufacturing to be performed and integrated more cost-effectively. These stages of production include: 1) Component manufacturing ( advanced inverters and battery modules); 2) integration of components into electric drive system “kits” customized for specific vehicle models and applications; and 3) vehicle component kit installations into mass-produced Class 8 truck models.

This grant agreement will fund two prototype vehicles that will be used for demonstration and testing in the San Pedro and Los Angeles port regions.

Grant Amount

The Energy Commission is providing $1 million.

Match Funding

The project partners are contributing $1.6 million in match.

Project Participants

TransPower’s team includes in-house experts on electric vehicle and control systems development, augmented by strategic partners that address every major need for successful commercial implementation. Partners include:

EPC, a startup firm based in San Diego, develops and markets advanced power conversion devices, with a focus on high-power converters using silicon carbide transistor and flexible control technology. These converters are expected to offer significant efficiency and cost benefits for transportation and renewable energy applications.

Navistar is a $14 billion a year manufacturer of truck bodies, frames and engines.

PortTechLA is a public benefit, non-profit technology commercialization center and business incubator founded by the San Pedro and Wilmington Chambers of Commerce in collaboration with both the City and Port of Los Angeles. PortTechLA will help evaluate potential VIFET manufacturing sites in the San Pedro area, which is consistent with its mission to attract technology companies to the Los Angeles harbor area.

Project Benefits

The vehicle demonstration could effectively accelerate the project by providing field performance data that would not have otherwise been available. Successful completion of the larger VIFET project and commercialization of the technologies is expected to result in 120 million gallons of diesel saved between 2013 and 2020. Similarly, emission reductions are estimated at 75.57 tons per year when comparing the electric truck to its diesel counterpart, with a potential aggregate carbon reduction of 1,511,400 tons for the same period (2013-2020).

It is estimated that up to 1,500 new jobs will be created by the establishment of the manufacturing facility and commercialization of the electric truck technology.