The Utilimaster booth at The Work Truck Show had plenty to reveal including its first Cummins EV powertrain and an electric delivery vehicle built in collaboration with Motiv Power Systems.
Spartan Motors, Utilimaster’s parent company, and Cummins collaborated to build an electrified last mile delivery vehicle, specifically designed for the parcel delivery market.
Built on Isuzu’s strip chassis, the same chassis leveraged by Utilimaster’s Reach vehicle, the Cummins powertrain is powered by a state-of-the-art battery system giving drivers an 85-mile range, a 3,200 lb. payload, and an under 6-hour charge time.
Cummins and Spartan Motors are hoping that the new EV platform will be a market-changing innovation for delivery fleets in a GVWR Class-3 platform. Currently, the Reach vehicle is being used on parcel delivery routes across North America.
Another reveal that kept attracting attention at Utilimaster’s booth was a step-side delivery van built in collaboration with Motiv Power Systems.
The chassis is powered by the same lithium ion batteries used in the BMW i3 which brings down the cost, according to Motiv CEO Matt O’Leary (see video below). Safe driving technology includes collision mitigation system, 360-degree cameras displayed on a 9-inch HD in-dash monitor and DOT sensors.
According to Utilimaster its walk-in van powered by Motiv’s all-electric EPIC chassis offers the same performance as a traditional fuel equivalent vehicle, at an 85 percent reduction in operating costs and 66 percent reduction in maintenance costs, over the life of the vehicle.
“We’re really within 12 to 18 months of making these vehicles pay off with lower cost of ownership even without incentives,” O’Leary said.
Spartan’s final reveal was a last-mile grocery delivery vehicle. This temperature-controlled truck body features a fully customizable and configurable cargo area with climate-controlled zones, for refrigerated, frozen, and ambient temperature goods.
“The Work Truck Show is the perfect place for us to showcase our broad expertise in fleet vehicles,” said Spartan Motors’ President and CEO Daryl Adams. “Our ability to quickly innovate in response to changing market needs is showcased in our booth, in each of our three vehicles on display. From EV solutions to fresh approaches to grocery and food deliveries, again Spartan and Utilimaster emerge as first in the last mile.”
Cummins, Spartan EV chassis build
Cummins, Spartan EV chasis build
Cummins, Spartan EV chassis build
