Quick Spin: Orange EV’s All-Electric Terminal Tractor
Orange EV’s T-Series terminal tractor looks and works just like a diesel, but its fully electric drive system produces no emissions and can save up to 90% over existing fuel and maintenance costs. Photos: Jim Park
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Orange EV’s T-Series terminal tractor looks and works just like a diesel, but its fully electric drive system produces no emissions and can save up to 90% over existing fuel and maintenance costs. Photos: Jim Park
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There’s no arguing with the utility of an electric terminal tractor. Gone are all the usual concerns about EV range. These trucks are almost exactly the same truck you are currently using except for the powertrain, so there’s little transition anxiety. They are as capable as any diesel-powered hostler, and for the environmentally conscious, they produce zero on-site emissions.
Last summer, during Bobit Business Media’s Fleet Technology Expo, we had a chance to try one of Orange EV’s all-electric T-Series on-road terminal tractors. I don’t have a ton of experience driving these trucks, so I wasn’t able to make a direct comparison to the diesel versions, but it was pretty cool.
As it was explained to me, the basic operating controls for the hydraulic lift are the same as a diesel, as is the forward and reverse selector – at least from the operator’s perspective.
An electric motor drives the hydraulic pump for the lifter and there’s even a boost option to speed up the lift (formerly accomplished by revving the engine), which draws some hydraulic flow from the power steering. But since you’re usually stopped when lifting, you’re not giving up anything.
The air compressor for the brake system is electrically driven, and all the usual vehicle systems, such as lighting, wipers, defrosters, mirror controls, and in-cab displays monitors, radios, etc., use a step-down transformer to get the 12 volts they need.
The forward and reverse selector looks the same as the diesel version, but with the T-Series, the controller simply switches the flow of current through the motors so they turn forward or backward. There’s no transmission to deal …Read the rest of this story
