Hexagon Agility and Brudeli Green Mobility to Deliver NZEVs
Brudeli CEO Lasse Bjørkhaug (left) and Hexagon Agility CEO Hans Peter Havdal unveil the Brudeli Powerhybrid at ACT Expo in Las Vegas in May. (Michael Freeze/Transport Topics)
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LAS VEGAS — Clean fuel solutions firm Hexagon Agility and Norwegian electric transmission tech company Brudeli announced a collaboration that unveiled the Brudeli Powerhybrid, the first near-zero-emission vehicle that complies with California’s Advanced Clean Trucks and Advanced Clean Fleets rules.
The plug-in hybrid system will be catered to Class 7 and Class 8 tractors and integrate Hexagon Agility’s clean and renewable natural gas systems with Brudeli’s plug-in Powerhybrid technology. Officials say this will offer fleets the capability to maintain diesel-like duty cycles, realize significant fuel cost savings, achieve decarbonization goals and comply with stringent emissions regulations.
“By focusing on having the ability to have 75-mile, zero tailpipe [emissions, and] pure electric drive capability in the Class 7 and 8 space, that will allow us to achieve ... ACT and ACF compliance,” said Eric Bippus, Hexagon Agility’s executive vice president of sales and systems development.
Bippus also noted that fleets have had difficulty navigating electric vehicle infrastructure and hope the Powerhybrid will fill a need for trucking companies looking for alternative fuel solutions.
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“When you look at Powerhybrid having the ability to have onboard charging reduce the need [to] install infrastructure for ... regeneration, now you can have smaller battery packs,” he said, noting the batteries will charge while driving via regenerative braking. “You can still leverage the internal combustion engine on renewable natural gas, which as we know has a negative carbon intensity score according to [the California Air Resources Board].”
Bippus added that once the product is certified as a near-zero-emission vehicle, and ACT rules are applied, both companies feel strongly that there’s space for both the Class 8 and Class 7 varieties in the North American market.
The Powerhybrid allows longhaul trucks to operate on up to 80% electric energy using a dual electric motor system. This setup enables the powertrain to switch between serial and parallel hybrid modes, allowing the truck to operate in the most efficient mode as vehicle speed, load, driving patterns and battery charge level vary, maximizing fuel economy and performance. This system provides flexibility for fleets to operate with clean energy options that are readily available. Trucks can be refueled with RNG at one of the more than 800 natural gas fueling stations.
Bippus
To enable fleets to operate in zero-emission-only mode in sensitive areas, the plug-in battery system can be charged overnight with a Level 2 charger, which is typically less expensive to install than direct current fast chargers and can cost less per kilowatt-hour consumed.
“There is growing awareness of the need to cut emissions from medium- and heavy-duty trucks, which make up more than 20% of overall CO2 emissions in the U.S. transport sector,” Brudeli CEO Lasse Bjørkhaug said. “Our partnership with Hexagon enables fleets in hard-to-electrify market segments to achieve zero-emission operation in sensitive areas while eliminating range anxiety for longer trips with RNG. Additionally, fleet operators will benefit from trucks that offer superior electric-like performance without the same payload restrictions.”
Brudeli Green Mobility founder and Chief Technology Officer Geir Brudeli. (Michael Freeze/Transport Topics)
Fleet operators would be compliant with the ACF rule for the operating life of any vehicle equipped with this solution that is purchased before 2036.
This technology pairing enables fleets to make meaningful progress toward environmental, social and governance goals when trucks are fueled with RNG, which is widely available.
The companies plan to introduce the first pilot trucks with this technology in 2026, with serial production slated for 2028.
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