Kalmar Ottawa has been a leader in diesel-powered yard trucks for decades, but as global logistics fleets move to reduce costs and insulate themselves from volatile diesel prices, the company is making that shift, too – and they’re out to prove their new, battery-electric T2 EV can deliver the same durability and productivity that’s made the original T2 a fixture at ports for years.
With support from Transport Canada’s incentives for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Zero-Emission Vehicles (“iMHZEV”) grant program, Canadian logistics firm WTC Group is putting a number of Kalmar Ottawa T2 EVs to work.
“Innovation has always been central to WTC Group’s operations,” explains Brad Gordon, Director of Maintenance at WTC. “As customers’ demand for sustainable logistics solutions continues to grow, investing in electric terminal tractors is a natural step in improving both operational efficiency and environmental performance.”
Kalmar is confident that its electric T2 will be up to whatever challenges WTC throws at it – and they should have a pretty good idea of what those are, having invented the specialized terminal tractor concept in 1943.
Under Construction
T2 EV construction, by Kalmar Ottawa.
The Kalmar T2 EV is powered by a continuous-duty electric drive motor that can deliver up to 454 kW (~610 hp) at peak output, drawing power from a modular li-ion battery pack available in 105, 140, or 210 kWh capacities. It can be specced out to offer an almost inconceivable 195,000 lbs. GCWR — more than enough to meet the needs of any customer fleet in Kalmar’s portfolio.
“Kalmar Ottawa has spent years developing the T2 EV to ensure that when we came to the market with an EV yard spotter, we would have the best EV truck in the market to match the reputation Kalmar established with our legendary T2 diesel terminal tractor that our customers have come to recognize,” said James Leibold, Zero Emissions Vehicle Sales Manager, Kalmar.
No word on how much WTC received from the iMHZEV program, or exactly how many T2 EVs are being deployed as part of the initiative.
Source | Images: Kalmar; via Global News Wire.
