Navistar Zero Emissions Electric Vehicle FAQs

Zero-Emission Future Questions

Zero Emissions will support your transition by facilitating a comprehensive buying process, which encompasses much more than your vehicle purchase. Our 5Cs approach leverages the insights of Zero Emissions subject matter experts and internal teams as well as partnerships with third-party entities such as In-Charge Energy and OneH2, to ensure you are purchasing not just the vehicles but the charging solutions and infrastructure that enable your customers’ success.  
A great starting place is the TCO Calculator. The Zero Emissions team can also help:  Schedule a visit HERE.
The transition to zero-emissions vehicles will help to reduce the impact of fossil fuel use on climate change, air and water quality. Depending on the type of vehicle, battery electric trucks and buses are up to 3.5 times more efficient than diesel and natural gas vehicles at normal speeds. (SOURCE: https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/documents/battery-electric-truck-and-bus-energy-efficiency-compared-conventional-diesel) With fewer parts to replace, maintenance on each vehicle will also be greatly reduced. 
Simply put, zero-emissions vehicles are quicker, quieter and cleaner, creating a better experience inside the vehicle and out, while producing zero emissions.
High-voltage batteries power the truck, communicating with software that sends energy to an electric motor. Battery electric vehicles have zero tailpipe emissions. 

Currently, battery electric vehicles are ideally suited for operations such as:
  • Regional haul day cab routes
  • Vehicles that return to the depot at the end of the day/shift for charging
  • Areas where there are federal or state incentives for infrastructure and fleet investments
  • Dense urban areas where total cost of ownership can be on par with traditional powertrains
Necessary infrastructure upgrades are in process. Most utilities are investing in grid updates and are preparing for the future of zero-emissions vehicles.  As for the present, commercial EVs are unlikely to overload the grid, since the vast majority of charging takes place at night, when electricity demand is lowest.
According to NACFE, lead times for installation can be in the six-months to one-year range. Zero Emissions and our charging partner will work closely with each customer to make sure your installation proceeds at the fastest rate while serving your business needs.
A fuel cell converts the chemical energy from hydrogen into electricity. Hydrogen fuel cells emit only water, eliminating carbon dioxide and other emissions.

 

A fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) has several advantages over a battery electric vehicle, including:

  • Quick refueling, typically in minutes
  • Longer range (up to 500 miles)
  • The ability to carry more payload due to a higher density by weight

Trucks powered by fuel cells have many benefits over diesel power, including:

  • Producing zero emissions during operation while matching the uptime of diesel vehicles
  • Carrying more payload and offering more power due to the lighter powertrain and fuel system
  • The ability to bypass rules against idling
Hydrogen has been used for over 40 years as an industrial chemical and a fuel. Over that time a robust infrastructure to produce, store, transport and utilize hydrogen safely has been developed. When handled properly, hydrogen is just as safe as diesel and other fuels but is non-toxic to the environment. Onboard hydrogen fuel tanks have internal isolation valves that close in the event of an accident. The limited amount of hydrogen fuel in the vehicle’s fuel system at any given time does not pose a substantial risk if breached.

Product Questions

Important safety features include:

  • Electric “handshake” high-voltage interlock
  • Charging only possible when the cable is fully connected
  • Protection from high voltage during charging, maintenance or accidents
  • Safe in all weather conditions
  • Vehicle is immobile while charging: Impossible to drive off while connected
One reason today’s electric trucks and buses can achieve such impressive range is regenerative braking technology. Instead of using friction from the brake rotors (which is wasted energy) to slow the vehicle, under moderate braking, electric trucks and buses use the electric motor to slow down, while at the same time, charging the battery.

 

The vehicles from International® and IC Bus® take this concept a step further by employing three levels of driver-selectable regenerative braking:

Level 1 provides similar stopping capabilities to a traditional automatic transmission vehicle.
Level 2 provides a moderate amount of regenerative braking.
Level 3 allows for one-pedal style driving and will slow the vehicle to a few miles per hour with the driver using the service brake to bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
Although factors such as battery composition, temperature, charging rate, etc., affect EV battery performance, it is not unusual for them to last the life of the vehicle. For additional peace of mind, International and IC Bus electric vehicles offer extended battery warranties.

Battery Electric Charging Questions

Any charger with a minimum 600 volts will work. That includes:
  • Network-capable chargers
  • Level 2 AC (19.2 kW) - 1772 SAE standard connection
  • Minimum for overnight charging (not recommended)
  • DC charging station (30 kW) - Combination CCS1 adapter port
  • More efficient than AC, recommended minimum
  • DC fast-charge station (up to 125 kW) - Combination CCS1 adapter port
  • More efficient than AC, fastest option
  • DC public fast-charging (up to 125 kW)
AC charging typically takes overnight, DC fast-charging, in just a few hours. Environmental factors such as battery age and condition and ambient temperature are additional factors. NEXT will work with our customers to recommend the best installation for your charging needs.
Network capable chargers can receive OTA (Over the Air) updates to diagnose charging issues. They also allow the fleet manager to monitor charging status.