Trucking skateboards!
A LIGHTWEIGHT, HYDROGEN OR ALL-ELECTRIC “skateboard” has been developed by a French company – as the basis for zero emissions heavy-duty trucks….either manned or driverless.
Gaussin says its world-first ZEV rolling platform is modular and can be scaled to suit tractor unit or rigid formats, ranging from 18 tonnes to 44t.
Gaussin says its “skateboard,” designed for long-haul and short-haul applications, is aimed at traditional truck manufacturers, new entrants, truck bodybuilders and autonomous navigation software players – anyone, in fact, needing access to a hydrogen/battery-electric platform “for clean and intelligent transport.”
Gaussin plans a global rollout of its skateboards “as early as 2021” – with the platforms comprising “the key components and systems to produce nextgeneration road trucks.”
That includes an ultra-light chassis that it says weighs “400 kilograms less than other chassis on the market, as well as hydrogen tanks, fuel cells, electric motors, drives, axles and suspensions.
Customers will be able to integrate their own cabs, software and equipment configurations – making the skateboard the core truck technology for a variety of applications such as containers, tankers, tippers or general freight.
A long-distance hydrogen version of the tractor unit will have a refuelling time of less than 20 minutes for a range of 800kms, while the all-electric version for short distances will have a three-minute battery change time…. for a 400km range.
An “open” design will allow easy mechanical and software integration, including a universal plate to accept various bodies and/or equipment and an open interface for external autonomous driving software.
The Gaussin Group says it will speed up worldwide deployment of the concept by creating a network of licensees – aiming to manufacture and sell 450,000 skateboard vehicles within the next decade.
Gaussin truck division managing director Jean-Claude Bailly says: “For the first time in the world of heavy trucks, Gaussin has created a versatile platform enabling the various players in the sector to achieve an extremely rapid time-to-market.
“The solution will enable them to save precious time in project development, at a time when the heavy goods vehicle market is changing rapidly and innovation is a key differentiating factor, more than ever.”
The company says it will use an Nvidia platform, created for highly automated and autonomous driving, to provide the skateboard’s supercomputing capabilities.
Gaussin says it has also signed an agreement with a French hydrogen producer which will see them together supplying over a dozen hydrogen skateboards – including tippers and tractor units – plus a renewable hydrogen production and distribution station, to a major public works company.
Twelve on-site-only 10x4 tippers will have a 70t capability, an autonomous 10x4 skateboard platform will carry an additional 25% payload, and several 44t tractor units will have a range of 500kms.
T&D