Class 8, BEV and autonomous: Californian manufacturer Solo AVT reveals the SD1 prototype

Californian manufacturer Solo AVT (Advanced Vehicle Technologies) revealed the SD1 prototype, a Class 8, battery electric truck capable to reach, according to the U.S.-based company, a range of over 800 km. In addition, the trucks is tailored specifically for autonomous driving.

The newcomer – made by alums from Waymo, Tesla, BMW, Ford, Faraday Futures, and more, and backed by leading investors including Trucks VC, Maniv Mobility, and Wireframe Ventures – intends to revolutionize the truck world, especially for long-haul applications. They say that the SD1 was designed from the ground up and includes full, aerospace-level system redundancy and the lowest drag coefficient of any Class 8 truck on the road. The long-haul battery-electric SD1 features active aerodynamics, tires designed to minimize rolling resistance, exterior lighting to communicate to pedestrians and other road users, a unique sound signature, a modular design for serviceability to maximum uptime, and multi-speed tandem e-axles with integrated electric motors.

The SD1 from Solo AVT

The truck is designed to ensure turn around times on par with today’s trucks and is compatible with fast chargers while also being able to utilize existing networks. It is also trailer-agnostic – meaning it can haul anything – and is built to integrate with all standard loading docks, and can haul an equivalent weight to today’s Class 8 trucks. The sensor arrangement allows for the easy integration of any autonomous driver system and features a proprietary software control interface.

Potrebbe interessarti

EAVX and REE Automotive’s walk-in van prototype is going to the next level

The class 5 vehicle debuts the EAVX body design powered by REE’s modular P7 platform. Evaluations of the new electric van will take place over several weeks in the Detroit metropolitan area. The pre-booked event will allow pipeline customers across retail, delivery and logistics segments to experien…

«The debut of our SD1 design is the next step in our journey towards decarbonizing the freight industry. We look forward to being the step change this massive industry needs as we develop innovative technologies to deliver a battery-electric long-haul Class 8 truck with over 500 miles (800 km) of range», said Graham Doorley, Founder and CEO, Solo Advanced Vehicle Technologies. «The demands on leaders across freight, logistics, retail, and other categories can only be met in a sustainable way by the convergence of two tech-enabled opportunities: battery-electric transportation at long-haul range and autonomy. Autonomous systems today won’t work on existing or retrofit platforms at scale. At Solo AVT we’re solving both of these challenges».