Electric Class 8 Truck Offered for Short Hauls

Balqon Corp., which makes electric-powered heavy-duty trucks, has introduced a new Class 8 tractor for inner city and shorthaul drayage service.

The MX30 model has the capacity to haul 30 tons and operate as fast as 70 miles per hour, the company, based in Harbor City, Calif., said in a statement. 

Balwinder Samra, CEO of Balqon, said in a statement that the company’s new electric-powered model is attractive because of high diesel costs, smog and congestion in urban delivery settings.

“We believe that the MX30 is an ideal solution for use at ports where air pollution is severe and distances traveled between marine terminals and local rail yards are less than five miles per trip,” he said.

The tractor can travel up to 150 miles on a single charge when it isn’t loaded. Its batteries can be charged in as little as three hours, the statement said.

Balqon also said it has received a $630,000 grant from the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners to install lithium-ion batteries in six tractors used at the nation’s largest port, the company said earlier this month.