Knight-Swift Transportation recently became the first major U.S. fleet to receive a zero-emission Kenworth T680E Class 8 battery-electric vehicle. The Kenworth T680E will operate at the Knight Port Services terminal in Southern California, according to a Kenworth press release. The fleet purchased a supporting Paccar 120 kW electric vehicle charging station.
The Kenworth T680E is designed for pickup and delivery, regional haul, and drayage applications. It is available as a day cab as either a tractor or straight truck. The T680E has an 82,000-pound gross vehicle weight rating and an estimated 150-mile operating range, depending on the application.
Orders for the electric Class 8 opened in 2020 and production began in 2021. Knight-Swift (No. 4 on the FleetOwner 500: For-Hire) ordered its T680E in September 2021.
Knight-Swift’s T680E arrives at a time when California’s emissions regulations, among the most stringent in the nation, are tightening. A recent ruling allows only 2010 or newer diesel-powered commercial vehicles to be registered in the state. Regulators are also eyeing the possibility of requiring zero-emission drayage by 2035. The California Energy Commission, on Nov. 15, approved $690 million for medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicle infrastructure, expected to power 1,150 drayage trucks, as well as 1,000 transit buses and 1,000 school buses.
The Kenworth Driving To Zero Emissions program also features the Class 7 K370E and Class 6 K270E battery electric vehicles and Paccar charging stations. Both the K270E and K370E are for pickup and delivery and short regional haul operations. The electric powertrain is available with high-density battery packs of 141 kWh, 209 kWh, and 282 kWh that deliver up to 100-, 150-, and 200-mile range, respectively.
Paccar Parts distributes electric vehicle charging stations that maximize coverage over a full range of Kenworth electric vehicles, with output power from 20 kilowatts to 350 kW. EV chargers can be purchased from Kenworth dealers.
