Trucks are switching over to electricity and autopilot

The photo is taken from the site: https://evcompare.io/ru/trucks-and-vans/freightliner/freightliner_ecascadia/

Trends from the world of cars have also reached the trucks. Trucks fully master alternative sources of energy and learn to drive without human help. Moreover, everything went quite far: electric models are already off the assembly line, and the autopilot is being tested on ordinary roads.

New technologies always lead to the disappearance of individual professions: people are no longer needed to perform certain jobs. Experts agree that modern trends will lead to the disappearance of drivers. Artificial intelligence and autopilot will be at wheel soon.

In cars, it will remove from the wheel those who mainly earn in other ways, and use the car for personal purposes. But the trucks are driven by those who are paid directly for this work. In the segment of commercial vehicles, getting rid of drivers will lead to the fact that many will have to learn a new profession. You can start worrying right now, because autonomous trucks are already honing their skills in real-life conditions.

Such experience is already mastered by the Scandinavians. One of the Norwegian quarries switched to the delivery of the breed with Volvo unmanned dump trucks. Cars drive along technological roads without going to public roads. This means that legislative prohibitions do not apply to them, and the owner of the quarry is free to establish his/her own rules. A route of several kilometers is laid in the memory of the autopilot, and each time it simply repeats a given trajectory. In the event of an obstacle, radars and sensors will notice it. But the loading process has not yet been automated.

Another stand-alone project has been launched recently. California-based startup Kodiak Robotics announces a release of drone truck. It drives on regular roads, so the operator is constantly in the car for safety reasons. This is required by law and common sense. In general, it is indicative of how quickly young companies today implement complex projects.

And the electric trucks have already passed the test path and can be considered almost serial cars. The demand for them, however, is still limited: they are not suitable for all carriers, not everyone is willing to take risks when buying a non-standard car. But if there is a desire and opportunities, you can get such an electric car.

Daimler alone has announced two news regarding electric trucks. The “green” Mercedes eActros began working for a German logistics company. Its mode is three flights a day with a total length of 168 kilometers. Two lithium-ion batteries give out 240 kWh, which should be enough for about 200 kilometers. From a powerful 150-kilowatt charge, the car will restore energy in just two hours.

Two main Freightliner eCascadia tractors were handed over for trial operation. Further deliveries are planned. Daimler took the issue of electric truck promotion seriously and created the “Electric Vehicle Council” in the United States. It included 38 carriers - Freightliner brand customers. They will operate pre-production electric trucks and give the manufacturer feedback. On its basis, the design will be finalized before launching into the series.

A full-fledged mass assembly of the eActros and eCascadia models should begin in 2021.

 Volvo has combined drone and electricity in the VERA concept. It can easily be mistaken for a chassis, not a fully finished truck. The Swedes decided: since the driver is not needed, the car is not needed! The result was an autonomous "electric truck" for towing full-size trucks. The developers explain that VERA is designed to work over short distances. For example, in ports, in large warehouses, or on routes of several kilometers.

The photo is taken from the site: https://www.techgenyz.com/2019/06/14/volvo-vera-autonomous-trucks-transport-goods/amp/