INDIANAPOLIS—A work truck manufacturer and several upfit suppliers debuted new products during events March 10 on the next to last day of Work Truck Week 2022. Here's a recap of some of those products. See more NTEA show coverage here.
Utilimaster introduces Velocity R2 walk-in van
Utilimaster revealed its new Velocity R2 walk-in van during a press conference at its booth on the show floor of the Indianapolis Convention Center.
According to Utilimaster, a brand of the Shyft Group and its fleet vehicles and services business unit, the new Velocity provides the comfort and agility of a cargo van with the cargo space and access of a walk-in van. Prototypes of the Velocity have undergone customer testing, and production on a parcel delivery customer order of more than 2,500 vehicles is expected to be completed later this year, according to the Bristol, Indiana-based company.
See also: Shyft debuts new brand, Class 3 EV delivery van, all-new chassis
“We designed the Velocity product line in 2020 to meet the unprecedented demand for last-mile delivery and created an entirely new segment in the market,” said Chad Heminover, president of Shyft fleet vehicles and services. “Following the success of the Velocity F2—our first Class 2 offering—we took the best of that vehicle as well as elements from our Velocity M-series design to create this new world-class walk-in delivery van.”
The Velocity R2 van, built on the modern Ram ProMaster cutaway chassis, is engineered with drivability, fuel efficiency, and payload capacity in mind, according to a Utilimaster release.
Its proprietary Work-Driven Design results from decades of engineering and ergonomics studies conducted to improve the efficiency and usability of walk-in vans and cargo van upfits for vocational fleets in the parcel, linen, food, and beverage, and pharmaceutical, delivery segments.
The Velocity R2’s Class 2 under-10,000 lb. gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) allows fleet managers to avoid costly U.S. Department of Transportation requirements associated with heavier vehicles, it does not require a commercial driver’s license, and the van is easily navigated on urban streets.
Exterior rivets have been eliminated to provide fleet owners a canvas for marketing logos, and the cargo area features both fixed and foldable shelves that ensure packages are delivered securely. Big bulkhead and passenger doors provide greater access for speedy deliveries, and the rear storage area’s low step-in height maximizes efficiency when entering and exiting.
The van is equipped with driver-centric safety technology such as a 360-degree camera system, a high-definition monitor, and back-up sensors and alarms. The R2 is available in a 12-foot body with 610 cubic ft. of storage and 2,500 lb. of payload, according to Utilimaster.
Allison transmissions headed to Freightliner CCC walk-in van program
Allison Transmission announced a collaboration with Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. (FCCC) on FCCC’s walk-in van program.
Uprate variants of Allison’s 1000-series or 2000-series transmissions, along with the new GM 6.6-liter gasoline engine, will form the powertrain combination for FCCC’s MT walk-in van chassis. The Allison transmissions will be equipped with the company’s next-generation electronic controls platform, which can deliver advanced communications, functional safety, cybersecurity, and over-the-air programming.
See also: Mack to offer Allison 3000 RDS transmission as MD Series option
“Allison has long shared in our commitment to innovation and excellence, which is why we’re excited to once again partner with them on these latest updates to our walk-in van product lineup,” said Greg Baker, FCCC’s commercial product manager. “These new Allison transmissions will provide a number of important enhancements and features to the next generation of our MT chassis.”
FCCC’s walk-in van chassis will provide customers with increased productivity and fuel economy, according to the companies. Designed for commercial vehicles in on-highway applications, including walk-in vans, the Allison 1000/2000 Series transmissions, upgraded with its next-generation controls platform, will be paired with the GM engine to offer a rating of up to 380 horsepower and 465 lb.-ft. of torque. The new 1005 Highway Series and 2205 Highway Series models will provide a 40-horsepower increase over Allison’s current 1000/2000 Series transmission ratings. Production of the MT walk-in van chassis with the new powertrain is planned to begin later this month.
“By combining Allison’s proven fully automatic transmissions with next-generation electronic controls, we’re able to provide fleets with innovative technology they can rely on,” said Ryan Milburn, VP of product engineering at Allison Transmission.
The uprated 1000/2000 Highway Series transmissions will feature a standard five-year warranty, allowing FCCC and its fleets to leverage Allison’s network of more than 1,400 authorized distributors and dealers around the world to access the company’s products, training, service, and support.
Legend displays Evolve lightweight cargo van floor
As many van fleets shift to electric vehicles (EV), they’re concerned about the weight of payloads and feeling that “range anxiety.”
Canada and U.K.-based flooring maker Legend and its upfit sales lead Walt Coulter debuted a lightweight solution—Evolve—at Work Truck Week on March 10.
The all-new lightweight cargo van floor, designed especially for EVs, is 53% lighter than other van floors on the market and crafted with more than 75% recycled material and it’s upfitted in several large electric fleets in North America and the United Kingdom, according to the company.
Adapted from Legend's StabiliGrip floor, Evolve has a new core design that has a minimal effect on range and payload, according to Legend officials, and withstands wear and tear from cargo and equipment, keeps drivers safe with its anti-slip surface, and protects batteries under the floor of an EV.
Vanair, Lincoln Electric show Air N Arc power system
Vanair, a manufacturer of mobile power solutions, and Lincoln Electric, a maker of arc welding products, touted their Air N Arc all-in-one power system.
The collaboration combines Lincoln Electric's 127 years of experience in welding technology with Vanair’s 50 years of engineering expertise in mobile air compressors, engine-starting, and multifunction load management technology. Much of Vanair’s products are geared toward power management while operating in electric vehicle charging cycles.
“The addition of the Lincoln Electric name, their reputation, their engineering prowess and experience greatly enhance our Air N Arc product line and is very exciting news for the work truck industry," said Greg Kokot, president of Vanair.
“We put the work in work truck with our products,” Ralph Kokot, CEO of Vanair, added during a press conference at the company’s booth a Work Truck Week. “Electric is a sweet spot for us.”
“Right from the beginning, it was apparent that a fantastic working relationship developed between the two companies as we went about integrating our respective technologies into an industry-leading all-in-one solution that I truly believe will set the new standard in multifunction products,” Dean Strathman, VP of sales for Vanair.
