•
c o v e r
s t o r y
•
SKAGIT
PACCAR developing next generation of electric trucks
T
he electric trucking revolution is here, and Skagit County has a front row seat. PACCAR, a global leader in mediumand heavy-duty truck manufacturing, is developing a new lineup of all-electric trucks. The PACCAR Technical Center, an EDASC Signature Investor located in Mount Vernon, is leading research and development of zero emissions electric trucks thanks in part to a $33 million matching grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s SuperTruck 3 program. EDASC
The project aims to solve two of electrification’s biggest quandaries, said PACCAR Advanced Technology Manager Dr. Maarten Meijer: cost and range.
significantly reduced cost of ownership, that are ready for large scale production. The program also involves developing and building charging infrastructures.
“Those are the key challenges for large-scale adoption of zero emission vehicles,” Meijer said. “The range of a long-haul diesel truck is the benchmark, and the total cost of ownership of having an all-electric fleet needs to be competitive without long term federal and state incentives.”
And, as the prime recipient of the U.S. Department of Energy grant, many of these development activities will take place in Skagit County.
By the end of the 5-year project, PACCAR plans to demonstrate electric trucks with increased performance and
6
“The PACCAR Technical Center will work closely on this project with the PACCAR truck divisions, Kenworth and Peterbilt and our external partners,” said Dr. Philip Stephenson, General continued on pg. 7
SKAGIT BUSINESS GUIDE 2022
