American truck manufacturer Balqon has unveiled its Nautilus XR E20 (XR stands for Extended Range) long-range heavy-duty truck at 2011 Alternative Clean Transportation Expo. The vehicle offers a 75% increase in range over the base model of Nautilus XE-20. This extended range version of the vehicle allows the operator to perform a two-shift operation for a period of 16 hours or 150 miles on a full charged batteries.
Apart from an increased range, the initial testing of the vehicle has shown that it has a 74% lower operating cost compared to similar gas-operated trucks. The XR E20 has been developed using Balqon’s proprietary electric drive system. It also offers complete power management, propulsion and power conversion system for both the batteries as well as the charging systems. All this technological achievements combine to make XR E20 an extremely cost-effective and efficient option for ferrying goods at a longer distance.
The XR E20 is powered by a Thunder Sky 320V, 16 Module lithium-ion battery pack and a 200 HP AC electric motor with liquid cooled controllers. The motor has an integrated CAN BUS and self-diagnostics system. So, whenever there is problem in the motor, the self-diagnostic system will let the driver know of the problem and its causes. The vehicle also features an increased charge rate that allows the operator to charge the batteries during breaks and shift changes. The lithium-ion battery pack takes about two and a half hour to get fully charged.
Balqon has started commercial production of the vehicle. Since, most of the company’s business lies outside United States, it is obvious that most orders will be received from overseas. The company is confident that in 18 months they will be able to justify the premium cost of an electric vehicle.
Via: Autobloggreen
