Cummins-Powered Isuzu Electric Truck To Start US Trials In 2022

https://insideevs.com ^ | January 24, 2022 | Dan Mihalascu

[Red Badger]

Isuzu's F-Series medium-duty truck will be modified to accommodate Cummins' PowerDrive6000 electric powertrain.

Isuzu Motors and Cummins announced an agreement to create a prototype medium-duty battery electric truck for testing in North America. In a joint press release, the companies said the truck represents the first zero-emissions solution facilitated by the Isuzu Cummins Powertrain Partnership (ICPP) formed in May 2019.

More specifically, through the arrangement, the US company best known for its diesel engines will integrate its Cummins PowerDrive6000 into Isuzu’s F-Series truck and will pilot the truck with prominent North American fleets beginning in 2022.

If the demonstration and pilot phase proves successful, Isuzu says it will explore opportunities to sell medium-duty battery electric trucks with Cummins-powered systems across North America.

There are no specs available of the Cummins PowerDrive6000, but the powertrain has been used before in a Cummins plug-in hybrid concept truck where it offered 50 miles (80 km) of range. However, the Isuzu application is for an all-electric truck, so we imagine it will come with a larger battery pack to provide more range.

"As part of the path to carbon neutrality, it is significant for us to start this joint BEV prototype project in North America. Through our partnership, we commit to continuing to explore further opportunities in the next generation power source including electric powertrain technologies in addition to the existing powertrain collaboration."

Koichi Seto, Director of the Board, the Senior Executive Officer at Isuzu

Amy Davis, Vice President and President of New Power at Cummins, said the partnership with Isuzu will result in "safe, reliable zero-emissions solutions."

"We are excited to be working with Isuzu to accelerate decarbonization within the partnership. It’s through our joint commitment to innovation that we provide our customers with safe, reliable zero-emissions solutions."

The press release notes that Cummins and Isuzu will continue to collaborate to advance the future of power to support customers in achieving zero-emissions. Without naming any specific project, the companies say they will "seek opportunities to further expand collaborations to drive global growth."

[Dr. Sivana]

Isuzu partnered with GM in the early 00’s to build diesel engines in Ohio. Total disaster - GM had to re-engineer a lot of the production facility to get any decent engines out of it at all.

In the late '90s I did contract work in the GM Janesville plant, where they made Suburbans, but also box trucks. I witnessed both Isuzu and GMC trucks coming off the line. They were virtually identical. Interesting that GMC doesn't want to partner with Isuzu on this one.

[Yo-Yo]

I was expecting an 18 wheeler.

Phhft.

But a box van is a more viable candidate for electrification at this stage in the technology because it usually makes only local runs, generally doesn't have to run at freeway speeds, and usually doesn't need to have 500+ mile daily range.

[wally_bert]

Bring back the L.U.V.

[oldvirginian]

“virtue signalling”

Yes it is.
But very profitable virtue signaling for some people, including the politicians involved.

[stylin19a]

he’s in the WH

[HeadOn]

Are those extension cords dragging behind that truck???