Hyliion Holdings Corp. has announced the formation of of a council which brings together fleet, logistics, and transportation industry leaders support the development of Hyliion’s Hypertruck powertrain solution. The new Hypertruck Innovation Council will provide Hyliion insight on the development of its electric powertrain technology for Class 8 trucks.
Fleet and technology companies which have joined the council include:
- Agility Logistics
- American Natural Gas
- Anheuser-Busch
- GreenPath Logistics
- NFI
- Penske Truck Leasing
- Ruan Transportation Management Systems
- Ryder System, Inc.
- Schneider
- Wegmans Food Markets
- Werner Enterprises
Members of the council will have first access to testing Hyliion's electric powertrain system in real-world conditions. They will then be able to provide the company with valuable feedback it can use to further advance its technology before bringing it to market.
Creating emissions-free transport
The Hyliion Hypertruck ERX (Electric Range Extender) combines a fully electric drivetrain and a natural gas-powered onboard generator for battery recharging to provide long-haul commercial trucks a range of over 1,000 mi. (1,609.3 km). Because natural gas is already available today, this solution is easy for fleets to implement in the near term as part of their emissions-reduction strategies.
Watch our interview with Thomas Healy, CEO, and Patrick Sexton, Chief Technology Officer, Hyliion, to learn more about the Hypertruck ERX.
According to Hyliion's press release announcing the Hypertruck Innovation Council, member companies are looking to implement sustainable practices in the commercial trucking industry and share Hyliion's goal of reducing carbon emissions.
For many of the council members, the collaboration with Hyliion is one of many in their search for alternative transport options. NFI, for instance, has been piloting Volvo Trucks North America's VNR Electric truck in Southern California.
Anheuser-Busch has also been testing several companies' electric truck technologies. In 2019, the company announced it would deploy BYD electric trucks at four of its facilities in California to test their use in distribution operations. Later that same year the company announced it had made the first Zero-Emission Beer Delivery near its headquarters in St. Louis using a Nikola hydrogen-electric truck and a BYD electric truck.
“With one of the largest dedicated fleets in the U.S., Anheuser-Busch is committed to leading the industry towards zero-emissions commercial transportation by improving the sustainability of our own logistics operations,” said Angie Slaughter, Vice President of Sustainability and Logistics Procurement at Anheuser-Busch. “The most impactful technologies come from close collaboration with experienced and innovative minds, and we’re excited to participate in the Hyliion Hypertruck Innovation Council to support the development of a transportation solution that meets the complex needs of today’s fleets while working to build a more sustainable future.”
Thomas Healy, Founder and CEO of Hyliion, said, “Our customers are at the core of our business. Their feedback and collaboration are crucial to the success of our Hybrid solution, which has already logged millions of real-world miles. That’s why we have brought together the Hypertruck Innovation Council, a group of commercial transportation industry leaders, who will be the first to test and review demonstration units of the Hypertruck ERX and whose feedback will be essential as we improve upon our technology. The council will also help us ensure that the unique and diverse needs of today’s fleets continue to be reflected in our products as Hyliion develops the next generation of industry-leading, environmentally conscious technology and powertrain solutions.
“Now more than ever, fleets need efficient and affordable technologies that also address broader sustainability goals. Our collective strengths will help Hyliion unlock the potential for electrification technology while advancing our customers’ operations and the industry at-large,” he added.