Auto Crane NexStar Crane Management System | AutoCrane.com

Auto Crane NexStar Crane Management Remote Control System introduced in 2009. Visit http://www.autocrane.com for more information.

Motiv Power Systems Battery-Electric Truck

Motiv Power Systems Secures $1.16 Million California Energy Commission Grant, Demos New Battery-Electric Truck at Work Truck Show in Indianapolis
Motiv electric truck utilizes traditional diesel truck assembly line infrastructure to accelerate EV adoption

San Francisco, CA - February 28, 2012
Motiv Power Systems, an innovator in electric vehicle (EV) powertrains for commercial trucks announced today the California Energy Commission (CEC) granted the company $1.16 million for an assembly line pilot run of four electric truck chassis in partnership with Detroit Chassis, LLC. The grant will further validate Motiv’s Electric Powertrain Control System (ePCS), which provides a 100-mile range and whose total cost of ownership is approximately 50% less than a diesel powertrain over an 8 year period. The company’s new demonstration shuttle bus will be available for test drives at the Green Truck Ride-and-Drive event at the Work Truck Show and Green Truck Summit, March 6-9 in Indianapolis, IN (booth #5666).

“A ‘mix and match’ design is the future of the electric truck and we are thrilled to show the commercial trucking industry how ours works,” said Jim Castelaz, Founder and CEO of Motiv Power Systems. “Our ePCS design accommodates a wide variety of off-the-shelf batteries and components, allowing EV designers and truck chassis builders the flexibility to combine various components to meet a range of specifications without designing a new powertrain from scratch.”

Rather than offer a single electric truck model with limited component selection, Motiv’s ePCS works with a wide range of batteries and motors. This flexibility allows fleets to choose their battery vendors as well as vehicle range and power. Through its intelligent software control algorithms, Motiv’s ePCS actively manages power flow between all electrical components in the vehicle. It also captures and wirelessly broadcasts data to the Motiv “cloud” for monitoring and analysis. Factors such as battery charge, vehicle status and health provide detailed real-time analytics to support fleet operators in preventive service maintenance.

“Vehicle fleet owners view electric vehicles as a way to reduce both their carbon emissions and their operating cost,” said John Formisano, Motiv Advisory Board Member and Chairman of CALSTART, a member supported organization dedicated to supporting a growing high-tech, clean transportation industry. “High capital costs are often cited as the barrier to EV adoption. But Motiv’s technology enables component flexibility and holds the potential to reduce the costs of EVs and allow electric trucks to become more mainstream.”

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Motiv on their electric truck chassis”, said Michael Guthrie, CEO and President of Detroit Chassis. “Motiv’s approach enables chassis builders to incorporate electric trucks into their portfolio and integrate them into their current assembly processes.”

ABOUT MOTIV POWER SYSTEMS
Founded in 2009, Motiv Power Systems designs and builds a flexible electric Powertrain Control System (ePCS) for the commercial electric truck. Motiv’s ePCS works with a wide variety of batteries and motors. This flexibility allows traditional truck chassis builders to assemble custom electric chassis on their current diesel truck assembly lines. Electric trucks equipped with Motiv’s ePCS can offer over 100 miles range and a total cost of ownership 50% less than a diesel truck over an 8 year period. Motiv’s ePCS is available for commercial trucks, shuttle buses and delivery vehicles.

ABOUT DETROIT CHASSIS
Detroit Chassis, LLC is a subsidiary of Spectra LLC, a concept to customer provider of niche vehicle manufacturing solutions owned by Michael and Carlton Guthrie. Spectra also owns Magnys LLC, a provider of process and manufacturing engineering services, and Detroit Custom Chassis, a low floor shuttle and transit bus chassis builder.

RAM Social Media Truck at the 2012 New York Auto Show

Here's a quick look at the RAM Social Media Truck at the New York International Auto Show. With touch screens in the windows and other cool gadgets, this unique concept vehicle was prepared by RAM to a provide a platform where show guests could interact with their social media feeds -- and to support two RAM partners, Covenant House and K.I.D.S -- Kids in Distressed Situations. Some 2000 RAM plush toys in the RAM Social Truck's bed were distributed to children in need.

New 2012 FUSO Canter Walk Around

Leighton Good describes the many features of the new 2012 FUSO Canter commercial work truck...a medium duty truck with advanced drivetrain and emissions technology offers lower cost of ownership. To see more about Fuso Trucks, go to http://www.mitfuso.com/en-US

F250 CNG System by Venchurs Vehicle Systems

Patrick Muldoon goes over the new F250 CNG conversion kit available from Venchurs. See more at http://venchursCNG.com

Top Five Things You Need To Know About CNG - Compressed Natural Gas

CNG - Compressed Natural Gas represents economic growth and a cleaner environment for our country. Make sure you know the basics on this plentiful and cost effective energy source. http://baftechnologies.com/products/

VWerks and Venchurs Partnership

PT explains how VWerks a division of Venchurs Vehicle Systems can build tricked out rides, as well as the latest in fuel technology. See more at http://www.vvwerks.com and http://venchursCNG.com

VMAC's Raptair 60 CFM Diesel Drive Customer Testimonial

After using the Raptair stand-alone 60CFM diesel drive air compressor for over a year, Kade Van Shaik of Highway Tire in Nanaimo, BC, had a lot to say about the efficiency, fuel savings and compact power of VMAC's newest innovative air compressor system.

See more at www.release-the-beast.com

Odyne Advanced Hybrid System Overview

In this video, Odyne introduces a variety of new trucks with Hybrid capabilities. See more about Odyne Hybrid Power at www.odyne.com

Zip's Smart Body Is An Interesting New Idea In Truck Bodies

While doing our annual pilgrimage to the NTEA Work Truck Show in Indianapolis, I ran across a very interesting design of truck boxes that accommodate a wide variety of items and maintains a low profile so that the rear visibility is not hampered. The lids open like a gull wing and show off a large area that comes with some dividers to manage items effectively. As one photo shows, this makes perfect sense with a gooseneck flatbed with two boxes installed at the front of the bed, while the double box version is much more like a service body.

The boxes are a deep 34" and have a combination of shelving and dividers. Since this is a modular concept, the boxes are available individually and can be shipped around the country. They also offer a 24" cross frame Tunnel Box as shown in the last photo. I think this box is great looking and could be used in so many different ways.

Here's a blurb from their brochure: "Zip's Truck Equipment introduces a completely customizable SMART modular service body designed to meet all the needs of your unique customers.

Customized and clever storage compartments allow your customers to build for their exact needs. Improve the efficiency, productivity, and profitability of their business, and the business of your customers."

If you're interested in learning more about Zip's Smart Body or becoming a distributor of this one-of-a-kind product line, contact Zip's Truck Equipment at 800-222-6047. Though I couldn't find anything on their website about this product line, you can see what other things Zip's Truck Equipment does by visiting www.zips.com.

Welder Body with Lots Of Drawers In Horizontal Compartment

This is very unusual to see six HD drawers in the horizontal compartment in this welders body. They are more common in the verticle compartments, but I love it this way because it is like everything being counter high and easy to get at. Then these drawers are set up with dividers to allow for the storage of a variety of small parts.  The six 3" roll out drawers have 20 compartments each, totaling 120 divided compartments for fittings, terminals or other small parts. Easy to organize and easy to access and retrieve your parts. The side by side drawers allow for access to many parts at the same time.

The drawers lock into place individually and are secured by the outside horizontal door. Notice the heavy duty bumper with the pintle hook, the chain loops and the square receiver for a trailer ball. The rear mounted handles allow for entry into the bed area. Notice the vice bracket mounted on the passenger side.

Call Inside Sales at Harbor Truck Bodies at 800-433-9452 and visit their website at www.htbi.net.

The Glass Racking Company 2.4M x 1.65M Double Side Tray deck Glass rack

2.4M long x 1.65M High Double Side Glass rack, one side featuring our height adjustable system, Four glass retention poles per side with non-marking sliding blocks and scissor clamps. See more at www.theglassrackingcompany.com

Titan Leaf Solutions

The Titan Leaf Solutions line of industrial leaf vacuums. Titan Leaf Pro, Pro Plus, RCH, Spartan Pro Self Contained, Spartan Pro Plus, Leaf Box, Leaf Cap and Chipper Cap.

Snow & Ice Control Unit Walk-Through From Bonnell Industries

At Commercial Truck Success, we are always looking for a good video of a product, and this is a perfect example of a great walk-through on a truck body job. It's not a spiffy massively edited commercial, but just a great walk through talking about all the interesting features. Great job!

This is Ed Campbell, National Sales Manager for Bonnell Industries, Inc. of Dixon, IL, manufacturer of Truck and Road Equipment. He is telling us about this 7400 International with a dump body, a U-696 Stainless Steel Spreader with a Varitech Prewet System. It is interesting to note the double-loomed wiring harness and how it is routed inside the frame, along with the hydraulic fittings running through a bulkhead, as well as all of these parts having their own part numbers and are available for replacement quickly using the supplied parts manual.

This truck also sports an 11' mid-mount wing plow with a rubber cutting edge and specially designed HD assembly. At the front, there is a HD frame and hitch and it is all managed with ease from the cab via a Force America joystick controller.

See much more about Truck and Road Equipment at the Bonnell Industries website at www.Bonnell.com, or call them at 800-851-9664.

AMT now available in Isuzu F-Series

In 2009 Isuzu Trucks SA was the first OEM to introduce the Automated Manual Transmission to the South African truck market in the MCV segment of the truck market. This was introduced on selected N-Series MCV models. To date this has been a great success with many fleets now standardizing on these models with AMT. The resulting sales speak for themselves, in models where the AMT and manual option are both available, 50% of these models are sold with the AMT option.

On a Smoother AMT model, the driver does not use a clutch pedal when pulling away, changing gears or stopping; he/she uses only the gearshift lever, accelerator pedal and brake pedal.

This innovation saves operators thousands of rand each year.

Based on a manual transmission, such advanced technologies as wet-type multiple disc clutch and fluid coupling have been introduced to achieve an easy-drive system suitable for commercial vehicles at a low price. In addition, use of an electromagnetic solenoid valve-type gear shift unit enables both computer-controlled automatic transmission and manual transmission.

This feature allows the driver to drive the truck in the automated mode, or in the manual mode without having to operate the clutch, thus eliminating the risk of abuse.

This industry first from Isuzu Trucks will soon to be available in the F-series range, which will now give the fleet owner the same advantages and benefits that have been experienced with the N-Series range over the past few years.

Over the course of a trucks life, especially in our high traffic inner city delivery applications, the clutch may need to be replaced between 5 to 8 times, model dependent. This comes at a substantial cost, which with the AMT option then becomes a saving.

With the AMT, the transmission is manual but the shifting mechanism that changes the gears is electronically controlled. There is no driver operated clutch, which takes away the risk of any driver abuse. The truck is always in the right gear, at the right time. No more expensive clutch replacements.

With AMT, Isuzu Trucks brings to market a truck which retains performance, durability and fuel economy usually associated with a manual transmission. This truck is so easy to drive that the driver is able to completely focus on the road.

The F-Series AMT has a 6 speed transmission, with features such as Hillside Assist for pull off on a step gradient when the truck is at full GVM.

Also available now in the FSR 750 AMT Crew Cab, this truck seats 7 passengers in the spacious cab which is ideal for application that require crew to accompany the load.

The AMT is available in the N-Series and F-Series in the following model derivatives – NPR 300, NPR 400, NPR 400 Crew Cab and NQR 500, FSR 750 Crew Cab, FSR 800 and FTR 850.

To add to this model line up the AMT option will be introduced on the FRR 500 in the 3^rd quarter of 2012.

See more at http://www.isuzutruckssa.com