In effort to make the transition into the era of clean energy vehicle transportation, Penske Truck Leasing, Roush CleanTech in Livonia, and Boston-based Proterra have developed a collaboration to integrate Roush CleanTech’s clean technology into Ford F-650 trucks that Proterra will be powering with their advanced car batteries. PTL will be the first company to purchase the vehicles.
“We remain committed to being at the forefront of vehicle electrification and making impactful sustainability strides within our industry,” says Paul Rosa, senior vice president of procurement and fleet planning at Penske Truck Leasing. “This collaboration is another step towards a more sustainable future in trucking. We plan to deploy and operate these vehicles in multiple markets.”
Penske has been operating, supporting, and maintaining alternative-fueled vehicle fleets for more than 30 years, including commercial electric vehicles for a decade. In addition to the next-generation F-650, Penske has introduced light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty electric commercial vehicles to its fleet along with its own heavy-duty EV charging networks.
The collaboration will develop the most efficient way of producing and supplying the next generation of electric vehicles, as well as create a widely accepting ecosystem that supports them. This includes mass fleet-electrification by finding more and better ways to charge vehicles.
“The goal of the Roush CleanTech, Proterra, and Penske collaboration is to remove any and all barriers to help fleets transition to a cleaner future,” says Todd Mouw, president of Roush CleanTech. “It’s clear the market is looking for trusted brands like ours to develop innovative technologies while also supporting the entire lifecycle — from vehicle design and development to infrastructure assistance, after-sales customer support, and more.”
The F-650 will be available in several different styles for different purposes. Some of the configurations include utility trucks, shuttle buses, and box trucks. The Proterra H series battery system will be integrated into all these vehicles.
The system and battery are as versatile and movable in the vehicle as it is powerful. It fits between frame rails and provides 165 kilowatt hours of energy that can distribute a range of 125 miles with each charge. The vehicle will also be able to transport up to 8,500 pounds of force.
“Fleet operators need strong partners in electrification,” says Gareth Joyce, president of Proterra. “That’s why we are excited to bring our proven electric vehicle technology to long-trusted, leading brands like Roush CleanTech and Penske to help electrify commercial vehicle fleets. We look forward to building our relationship together as we deliver the benefits of clean, quiet Proterra Powered vehicles to even more communities and accelerate the transition to a zero-emission future,”
The F-650 is expected to be released in the second quarter of 2023.
