Eaton, one of the top suppliers of truck transmissions, has recognized the industry’s shift to cleaner technology and has joined the ranks of the National Zero Emission Truck (ZET) Coalition, which seeks to accelerate growth in the clean medium- and heavy-duty truck segments by reducing upfront costs for fleets. The list of 30 members includes several Tier 1 suppliers and every major truck OEM.
The ZET Coalition, organized by CALSTART, is attempting to create a $2 billion-plus point-of-sale incentive program at the federal level over a five-year period that would introduce tens of thousands of zero-emissions trucks into American fleets and inject life into the U.S. economy though the increase in manufacturing.
“That level of investment could transform the ZET industry, building a stronger domestic supply chain that provides high quality manufacturing jobs and dramatically improving air quality in cities and along congested freight corridors,” the ZET Coalition stated.
Medium- and heavy-duty trucks generate 60% of air pollution in major metropolitan areas and are responsible for almost 22% of energy use in the U.S. transportation sector, Eaton noted.
Eaton has been a member of CALSTART for 15 years and created its own eMobility business in 2018 to support the transition to cleaner trucks with innovative equipment. This includes:
- A high-efficiency transmission that achieves additional fuel savings by enabling engine-off coasting and waste heat recovery
- A 48-volt mild hybrid electrically regenerative accessory drive that charges the vehicle’s batteries, efficiently runs the air conditioner and other accessories, and replaces the alternator in linehaul commercial vehicles
- Precise exhaust gas recirculation controllers that enable simultaneous fuel and emissions reductions
- EV transmissions for both medium- and heavy-duty vehicles
- FLEX power distribution units
- The Twin Vortices Series (TVS) system, which provides accurate and fast air control to enable rapid fuel cell voltage control for hydrogen systems
