Embark, HP Introduce EV Drayage Within Autonomous Truck Operations
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Embark Trucks Inc., developer of self-driving software for the trucking industry, has partnered with HP Inc. to combine electric and autonomous truck technology, the companies announced Sept. 14.
The joint initiative is aiming to create a distribution network starting with the launch of an electric truck drayage pilot in the Los Angeles area.
HP, the technology company known for its printers and PCs and other mobile devices, will use electric trucks within its supply chain while incorporating Embark-equipped autonomous trucks to gain greater efficiencies.
“We’re combining the best of both worlds with this partnership, pairing the middle-mile strengths of autonomous trucks with the sustainability benefits of electric trucks in urban road settings,” Embark CEO Alex Rodrigues said in a statement. “Autonomous and electric trucks represent a powerful tool for companies like HP to help the trucking industry reduce harmful diesel emissions while continuing to deliver goods to the businesses and consumers who need them.”
Embark’s highway-adjacent transfer points are being used in the pilot to haul local loads using BYD 8TT electric trucks operated by human drivers. (BYD stands for Build Your Dreams.) The longer middle segment of the haul is completed autonomously by trucks equipped with Embark Driver software.
“We’re excited to see innovative companies like HP, Embark and BYD step up to help the State of California meet its ambitious emission reduction goals,” Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gomez Reyes said in a statement. “With zero-emissions shorthaul and autonomous longhaul trucks working in tandem, we’re improving air quality in California’s disadvantaged communities and addressing the climate crisis head-on.” — Transport Topics
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