Caqital Equipment News October 2018

TRANSPORT

“The world is changing – with climate change and shortage of skills being some of the key issues to contend with. Logistics is also changing, with technologies such as Big Data, robotics and Internet of Things, being adopted. Efficient logistics is key to any successful society, and it is of paramount significance that we start looking at technologies that make Smart Logistics possible,” adds Nakano. Nakano further reasons that apart from incentives, policy and emission regulations form part of the legal and social agendas pushing for alternatives to combustion engines. Electromobility offers reduced or zero emissions from trucks, improved truck efficiency, significantly lower noise levels and reduced truck operation costs. While the shortage of competent drivers is a global crisis, electromobility offers the opportunity to incorporate functions that can better assist drivers, which in turn can provide higher quality outcomes in less time and with less effort. “The future of the truck industry is leading towards electrification with cleaner, quieter and more efficient trucks, which not only support customer success, but will also be better for the environment. UD Trucks sees opportunities in many areas for electrification of products and systems,” says Nakano. “There are a number of concepts available, and we will pick and choose based on viability.” Automation in focus Automation is another key technology that UD Trucks sees as an enabler of efficiency and safety for its customers. Automated functions improve truck performance and safety; they enable drivers to work with optimal efficiency thanks to assist and guidance features which can off-set any difficulties for companies finding qualified staff, and these functions also benefit the customer by being able to remove humans from dangerous work areas. “Automation will reshape the logistics industry, creating real-life benefits for both customers and society in terms of productivity, safety, energy and fuel efficiency,” says Nakano. UD Trucks is now focusing on solutions for safe, low-speed automation in confined areas, including in-plant and harbour logistics. It is also exploring on-road Highway Auto Pilot and CACC (Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control) platooning technologies in the near future, and more highly-automated on- road vehicles in the long term.

A group of UD Trucks executives recently visited South Africa where they shared details of their Fujin & Raijin. Vision 2030 – an innovation roadmap which aims to deliver a variety of solutions for smart logistics.

Connectivity and digitalisation Rosenberg is of the view that

new technologies has been relatively expensive, but the cost of energy storage systems such as lithium-ion batteries is steadily decreasing, and so this is making electromobility a more financially attractive option. However, one of the key industry concerns is the cost of ownership of these new solutions. Nakano agrees that in the first place electric trucks won’t reach cost parity with their diesel or NG counterparts, unless supported by incentives and subsidies. The same view is shared by Chandramowli Kailasam, Mobility Team Leader at Frost & Sullivan, who says that depending on the truck segment, it is expected that electric trucks will make economic sense only post 2019 for LCVs (less than 6 t GVW), post 2022 for medium duty trucks (greater than 6 t to 16 t GVW), and post 2024 for heavy duty trucks (greater than 16-t GVW). In terms of battery longevity concerns, Kailasam says the adoption will start with a regional haul of less than 200 miles initially, and as the battery technology develops to pack more energy into a cell, it will be possible to increase battery capacity, while reducing battery size/weight. “Longer routes will also be possible, of course if supported by charging infrastructure and quick charging capabilities. Apart from regional hauls in the short term, applications like refuse collection and drayage trucks used in shipping yards will be more suitable for electrification,” concludes Kailasam. b

connectivity through digitalisation is the enabler of both automation and electromobility. In Japan, UD Trucks has about 45 000 vehicles connected through the UD Information Service, which uses data collected from each vehicle to help improve uptime. By analysing digital data collected from customer driving behaviour, UD Trucks also gains insight on how to design even safer and more dependable trucks. “Since the launch of the New Quon in 2017, UD Trucks has moved steadily forward on its mission to drive the future of smart logistics. The new innovation roadmap represents a major leap forward for both the company, the logistics industry and our society,” says Nakano. “We are committed to ensuring that our customers around the world feel the full benefits of the solutions and products we are developing, which will ultimately make life better for everyone in our society.” During 2018, UD Trucks will conduct demonstrations of autonomous driving and electric drive prototypes, targeting field tests and customer trials ahead of Tokyo Motor Show 2019. It aims to have vehicles in actual daily operation by the year 2020. All activities will be conducted with a view toward full-fledged commercialisation of fully-electric and autonomous trucks by 2030. Cost parity Available industry data shows that the uptake of eTrucks will rise significantly through to 2025. The development of

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