At the first UITP summit in four years, we report on developments related to two topics: electric vehicles and artificial intelligence.

Cumulative orders since March for BAESystems total 1,805 units for delivery taking place over the next two to three years.

The two five-year contracts stipulate firm orders for six ‘Xcelsior Charge FC’ fuel cell electric buses and twenty ‘Xcelsior Hybrid’ buses, and provide further options for up to 320 buses, half of which would be fuel cell electric and half of them hybrid electric.

The 50 ‘Nikola Tre FCEV’ trucks were ordered by AJR Trucking through Tom’s Truck Centers and are slated for delivery between the fourth quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024.

The German retrofit firm said that the federal government’s funding programmes for commercial electric vehicles, which were launched in 2021 and provide money for retrofitting diesel vehicles, have not made an appreciable impact on customer choices.

The eCitaro fuel cell utilises a battery-electric drive system with high-performance NMC3 batteries while the fuel cell acts as a hydrogen generator to extend the range. With a range of 350km on a single charge, the articulated version offers space for 128 passengers.

The company successfully completed a week-long demo tour of both its battery-electric Mercedes-Benz eActros 300 Tractor and its HFC Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck at Tyrol, in the Alps in Austria, at an altitude of 1,560 metres.

T&BB's report from the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo, held in Anaheim, California, USA between 1-4 May 2023.

The truck on show - based on the Freightliner Cascadia - had an 80-kg hydrogen storage capacity, but with 100 kg Quantron claims the vehicle range could reach between 750 and 850 miles.

Hexagon Purus says the 60,000-square-foot facility will have an annual production capacity exceeding 1,000 battery systems and will employ up to 150 engineers and assembly technicians.

Volvo Group NA showcased a range of new and upcoming products, including its new e-axle and the cellcentric fuel cell system, and announced the extension of EV service provision to 36 locations across North America.

The truck – a Peterbilt Model 579 – featured a Cummins ‘X15H’ engine, providing up to 500 horsepower (372 kW) and up to 1,900 lb-ft torque.