First US eHighway demonstration in California

An eHighway demonstration has been launched in the Californian city of Carson. Three freight trucks are running along the stretch of the one mile highway, using technology from Siemens to […]

An eHighway demonstration has been launched in the Californian city of Carson.

Three freight trucks are running along the stretch of the one mile highway, using technology from Siemens to electrify select lanes via an overhead system.

The catenary system supplies the trucks with electric power and also allows their operaton outside the electrified parts of the infrastructure.

It is expected to reduce the use of fossil fuels, truck operating costs and CO2 emissions – as heavy duty trucks are said to be the major soure of smog-forming emissions in Southern California.

The aim of the project, in partnership with the South Coast Air Quality Management Ditsrict (SCAQMD), is to demonstrate the eHighway system applied in truck operation on public roads in the US and to further prepare applications for larger scale initiatives in the future.

Roland Edel, Chief Technology Officer at Siemens Mobility Division said: “Every day, Americans rely on the goods and services that are carried by freight. This mode of transportation is predicted to double global CO2 emissions by 2050.

“Our eHighway technology has the capacity to double efficiency in comparison to regular diesel-powered trucks. This in turn cuts energy consumption in two and reduces local air pollution around America’s largest harbours.”

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