BYD have announced that Einride, a Swedish freight technology company, has purchased 200 Class 8 8TT battery-electric day cab trucks for deployment across the United States. This is the largest order of its kind outside of Asia.
BYD will begin delivery of the first vehicles, all assembled in Lancaster, California, in February. All 200 vehicles are set to be delivered in waves over the course of the coming 12 months.
Einride will utilise the vehicles to grow its global fleet of connected electric vehicles to serve their US customers throughout key transport regions. Saga, Einride’s technology platform that plays the critical role in ensuring electric shipping is efficient and optimised, will power the full fleet of signed BYD vehicles.
Patrick Duan, BYD North America senior vice president, said: “This historic order will give customers an up-close look at Einride’s industry-transforming intelligent operating system and our safe and reliable zero-emission battery-electric trucks.
“BYD Class 8 electric trucks showcase a strong combination of cutting-edge high tech and durability providing customers with the performance they desire while setting a new gold standard for driver comfort and safety.”
The majority of the vehicles will be BYD’s third-generation extended range 8TTs, which feature a cab styled by Wolfgang Josef Egger, the renowned former Audi chief designer. The air-ride cabs offer improved aerodynamics and energy efficiency alongside a spacious and ergonomic interior.
Niklas Reinedahl, Einride North America general manager, said: “As we continue to expand our US operations and provide our end-to-end shipping solution at scale, having an OEM partner that is able to collaborate with us in delivering best-in-class electric vehicles is imperative.
“This fleet of vehicles, which will be delivered at an industry-leading pace and volume, will allow us to efficiently provide electric, cost-competitive and emissions-free transportation to our customers.”
The trucks are equipped with 563kWh ultra-safe and reliable iron phosphate battery packs, an electronic parking brake system, keyless entry and push-to-start functions and will have up to 185kW CCS1 charging capability. The extended range 8TT offers a working range of 200 miles (322km)per charge.
BYD battery-electric trucks’ operation is clean, dependable and quiet and have significantly fewer moving parts than trucks that rely on internal combustion engines.
BYD, who are the world’s largest manufacturer of electric vehicles, is the leader in battery-electric truck deployments with more than 10,000 trucks in service around the world and over 200 in the United States.
BYD battery-electric trucks are deployed across America, from the ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach and Oakland in California to refuse collection services, distribution efforts and port terminal operators on the East Coast.
