“Frankenstein” Electric Trucks With Ford F59 Chassis
It’s alive! Ford Motor Company’s F59 stripped chassis looks like something that needs a good shot of juice to make it jump, and the company Motiv Power Systems has just what the doctor ordered. Motiv has just announced that it’s offering a slew of electric trucks, buses, and vans based on the chassis, which would otherwise be used for churning out more diesel-mobiles.
Is it that easy to build an electric truck, bus, van, or whatever? Apparently so, if you don’t start from scratch.
Off-The-Shelf Electric Trucks
It looks like Motiv has taken a hint from Dr. Frankenstein, who was famous for his creative use of readymade parts.
Too bad he is no longer with us — would love to see what he could do with self-assembling materials and 3-D printing — but his legacy lives on.
Rather than assembling purpose-built electric vehicles from the ground up, Motiv has developed an economical, flexible, off-the shelf approach that combines its proprietary electric powertrain with proven, reliable components.
We’ve been following Motiv around since 2012, when it announced plans to build a fleet of 20 all-electric garbage trucks for Chicago. Each weighs in at 52,000 pounds and can carry a nine-ton payload, so if you thought all-electric driving was just for lightweights, guess again. The battery pack runs all systems on the truck, including the 1,000 pounds-per-cubic-foot compactor.
More to the point, each truck is expected to save the city money on operating costs while eliminating the use of about 2,688 gallons of diesel yearly.
Our sister site Gas2.org also took note of Motiv in 2013 when it introduced a full-sized all-electric school bus based on Ford’s E450 chassis.
Last summer, Motiv scored $7.3 million from Magness Investment Group to expand its electric vehicle operations, and it looks like the company has not let any grass grow under its feet.
Did we also mention that last year Motiv nailed a 2014 Best of What’s New award from Popular Science?
We Can’t Wait For An All-Electric Food Truck!
We’re huge food truck fans but conventional food trucks run on diesel and we were just waiting for a fairy godmother to come around and turn them into clean, emission-free electric vehicles. While we were waiting, Motiv took things into its new hands with its latest electric truck announcement.
According to Motiv, the F59 chassis is typically used for food trucks as well as delivery trucks, refrigerated trucks, tool vans, and walk-in or step vans.
As the basis for a Motiv-generated vehicle, the F59 will support a 100-mile range. Based on Motiv’s experience with electrified vehicles so far, the expected reduction in operating costs compared to diesel trucks is 87%.
Here’s a rundown from Motiv:
The Motiv All-Electric Powertrain includes the Motiv electric Powertrain Control System (ePCS), batteries, motor, charger, heating, air conditioning and other components. It is installed via ship-through and requires minimal modification to the body and final vehicle design while maintaining performance.
Top it off with universal charging compatibility and a secure remote telematics and diagnostics system, and Bob’s your uncle.
The first company to latch onto Motiv’s latest offering is AmeriPride, the linens and uniform specialist. The company has ordered a fleet of 6 walk-in vans for its operations in Fresno, California.
Aside from a savings on operating costs and far greater stability for fuel prices, AmeriPride is looking to burnish its green cred. Motiv CEO Jim Castelaz is not shy about backing up the US Navy in its efforts to take on the climate change denial caucus in Congress, by the way. Here’s his money quote from the press release:
…Today, the vast majority of trucks and buses are completely dependent on fossil fuel. Combine this with unpredictability of fuel prices and increasing health concerns over toxic emissions and their contribution to climate change and it’s clear that a shift is needed.
Right you are, Jim!
So, food truck owners, whaddaya think? You can catch the new all-electric F59 over at the Indianapolis Work Truck Show this week. Just go over to booth #501 and tell them CleanTechnica sent you.
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Photo Credits: Motiv Power Systems.
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