USA - Dana Inc of Maumee, Ohio, has struck its first two electric powertrain systems contracts in the USA for medium-duty trucks – the names of the two truck builders, however, were not disclosed. It also revealed a third contract at the North American Commercial Vehicle Show in Atlanta (NACV Show 2019) last month; this time with Lonestar Specialty Vehicles where it unveiled a Dana e-powered terminal tractor unit – see separate article in this issue.

Announcing these two e-propulsion contracts, Steve Slesinski, director of product planning at Dana, said the first contract would see it supply complete Dana Spicer e-Powertrain systems for a medium-duty vehicle programme. Vehicles will be available to order from Q3, 2020, Slesinski stated, with first vehicles scheduled to be on the road in early 2021. Slesinski said Dana would be responsible the full design, integration and upfit to the customers’ chassis and this complete e-Powertrain system was expected to generate approximately USD200m in incremental sales to Dana over the next three years. Configured as a direct drive system that uses a motor to power a Dana-provided axle and driveshaft, the trucks are to comprise: