ZERO-EMISSION FUTURE QUESTIONS
Zero-Emission Future Questions
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How can the Navistar Zero Emissions team support my transition to a zero-emissions fleet?The Navistar Zero Emissions will support your transition by facilitating a comprehensive buying process, which encompasses much more than your vehicle purchase. Our consultative 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.
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How can I determine if an electric truck is right for my fleet?A great starting place is the TCO Calculator. The Zero Emissions team can also help: Schedule a visit HERE.
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Why is the commercial vehicle industry transitioning to zero-emissions vehicles?Because of the damaging effects of fossil fuels on the environment, the push for EVs has never been greater. 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.
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How do hydrogen and battery electric vehicles compare with diesel-powered trucks and buses?Simply put, zero-emissions vehicles are quicker, quieter, and cleaner, creating a better experience inside the vehicle and out, while producing zero tailpipe emissions. Furthermore, EV trucks cost less in the long run because they have less parts and require less maintenance
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How do battery electric vehicles work and what advantages do they offer?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
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Will the electrical grid be able to support this transition?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 most charging takes place at night, when electricity demand is lowest.
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How long will it take to get my charging infrastructure in place?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. Link to NACFE here?
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How do hydrogen fuel cells work and what advantages do they offer?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
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How safe is hydrogen?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
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How is safety built into electric vehicles from International and IC Bus?
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
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What is regenerative (“regen”) braking? Why do Navistar’s electric vehicles provide 3 levels of regenerative braking?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. -
How long does an EV battery last?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
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What types of chargers are available for Navistar vehicles?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)
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How long does it take to charge a commercial vehicle?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. Zero Emissions will work with our customers to recommend the best installation for your charging needs.
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Why should my in-house chargers be network-capable?Network capable chargers can receive OTA (Over the Air) updates to diagnose charging issues. They also allow the fleet manager to monitor charging status.
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INDUSTRY TERMINOLOGY
ANSWERS -
What is...?
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Amperage
The rate of flow of electrons through a circuit, a.k.a. current
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Average Power
The amount of power that your fleet requires while charging, averaged over the charging window
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BEV
Battery-Electric Vehicles -
BEV Demand
The amount of power supplied to BEVs during charging -
Charging Rate
The rate at which a BEV is charged, measured in kilowatts (kW) -
Charging Window
The period of time in your fleet’s duty cycle when vehicles can charge -
Circuit
The path along which electricity flows -
Cloud-Based Communications
A wireless internet-based service carrying information on EVSE status, energy consumption, location, and payments for use between the owner and the user(s) -
DCFC
Direct current fast charge, usually stated as DC fast charge -
Demand Charge
A fee applied to your greatest power draw during peak periods, on top of the rate that you pay for the energy ($/kW) -
Distribution
The process of delivering power from transmission lines to the customer -
Duty Cycle
The portion of time during which a vehicle is operated -
Energy Charge
Your baseline price of electricity, charged based on the amount of energy you consume ($/kWh) -
EVSE
Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment, or the charger unit -
Fixed Charge
A fee covering the regulator-approved costs that the utility pays to supply your power such as distribution and transmission ($/month) -
Flat Rate
A rate structure under which you are billed at a single price per kilowatt-hour consumed regardless of time, season or application -
Generation
The process of producing electricity from a fuel source -
ICE
Internal Combustion Engine -
kW
One kilowatt is equal to 1000 watts -
kWh
Kilowatt-hour, a unit of measure for electrical energy. 1 kWh is the energy delivered by 1 kW of power for 1 hour -
Load Profile
A graph showing the amount(s) of power that your fleet requires over the course of a day -
Meter
A device that records the amount of power (kW) and energy (kWh) -
Networking Service
An internet-based service that allows an EVSE owner to analyze basic activity data from one or more EVSE -
Peak Shaving
A strategy to reduce power consumption during periods of high demand -
Power Factor Adjustment
An adjustment to your demand charge according to how efficiently your facility consumes power -
Rate Structure
A set of parameters used to define the prices that a customer may be charged at different times of the day -
Seasonal Rate
Additional distribution fees covering the costs of weather stressors on the electric grid during winter or summer -
Substation
A set of electric equipment that reduces high-voltage power to a voltage suitable for distribution to customers -
Time-of-Use (TOU)
A rate structure under which you are billed different prices for power you consume according to the time and season when it is consumed -
Transformer
A device that changes electricity from one level of voltage to another -
Transmission
The process of moving power in large quantities across long distances -
Voltage
Pressure created by a difference in electrical charge between two points -
Watt
One watt is defined as the current flow of one ampere with voltage of one volt. -
ZEV
Zero-Emission Vehicle