lunes, 16 de enero de 2017

Electric Truck Sales to Surpass a Third of a Million by 2026




According to a new report from Navigant Research, global annual electrified powertrain medium- and heavy-duty truck sales are expected to grow from about 31,000 vehicles in 2016 to nearly 332,000 by 2026.

The report forecasts sales of medium- and heavy-duty trucks for each major world region — segmented by electrified powertrain type, including hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery electric, and hydrogen fuel cell — through 2026.

As local and national governments impose stricter emissions targets for commercial vehicles, they are also looking for ways to incentivize fleets to invest in medium- and heavy-duty fuel efficiency technologies as well as cleaner-burning fuels.

Though conventional diesel-powered vehicles are becoming cleaner and more efficient, the added initial and operating costs associated with these changes are helping to reduce the incremental cost of moving to electric-assisted and all-electric powertrains.

“New and established suppliers are starting to offer alternative powertrains as well as complete electric vehicles for niche applications,” says David Alexander, senior research analyst with Navigant Research. “Limited daily range and a drive cycle featuring a lot of stopping and starting are applications that benefit most from electric drive capabilities, and delivery and refuse collection vehicles are expected to be the primary targets in the short term.”
Technology advances and production experience in the bus market can be transferred readily to trucks, and the growing demand for electric cars has stimulated investment in battery manufacture that has resulted in falling battery pack costs, according to the report. However, even with these positive factors, electric drive trucks are still expected to remain a niche market, at around 5 percent of sales in 2026.


The report — Electric Drive Trucks — breaks the forecasts for the global truck market into medium-duty trucks and heavy-duty trucks for each major world region. Both of these vehicle categories are assessed for potential sales of electrified powertrain types: hybrid (gasoline and diesel), plug-in hybrid (gasoline and diesel), battery electric, and hydrogen fuel cell.
Global market forecasts for annual sales, segmented by region and powertrain type, extend through 2026. An executive summary of the report is available for free download on the Navigant Research website.





Extract taken from   https://goo.gl/9EUas5
Trucking news staff

lunes, 2 de enero de 2017

Tech StartUps that will Transform Warehousing


Beyond robotics software startups tech-enabled approaches are branching into warehousing, according to research by CB Insights.
CB Insights points to examples of  Flexe, which they call “AirBnB for warehouse space” and the proliferation of  several augmented reality smart glasses for warehouse workers such as GetVu as startups that will change the warehousing landscape. 
The research highlights a few companies, their funding, and how they will impact the sector. 
Warehouse & inventory management software - These companies offer software-as-a-service platforms, generally cloud-based, for warehouse management and inventory tracking functions. Temando leads with $50 million in funding, and works with Asos, Trademe, Krispy Kreme, and more. UK-based Peoplevox ($6 mmillion in funding) pairs its SaaS platform with warehouse-optimization consultants.
Warehouse robots - Automated and remotely controlled robots for order picking and inventory management. Seegrid, with $63 million in funding, makes automated vision-guided vehicles for companies like BMW, Volvo, Walgreens, 3M, Honeywell, and the USPS.
Worker wearables - GetVU, Atheer, and XOEye produce augmented reality smart glasses to aid warehouse workers, and Kinetic makes wearables that attach to workers’ belts to analyze movements and help prevent injuries.
Indoor asset tracking - These companies offer software, bar code readers, and RFID tags, focusing on improving the tracking of goods and equipment in warehouses.
On-demand warehouse space - Flexe ($20.6 million in funding) offers an online marketplace connecting retailers that need warehouse space with warehouses that have extra capacity.


Extract taken from   https://goo.gl/UxtgS0
By MH&L staff