Owner/Driver #339

tech briefs
SEA launches locally assembled trucks
MELBOURNE-BASED COMPANY
SEA Electric has announced the
commencement of volume commercial
production of electric trucks. SEA states
that the trucks will cost under $14 per
day to charge from the grid, and even
less if depot solar is used.
SEA Electric expects to see company
assembled and badged trucks based on
Hino 500 Series Wide Cab GH, and Hino
300 Series 816 models.
The company is placing its SEA-Drive
battery electric power system into Semi-
Knocked Down (SKD) chassis kits with
a view to seeing retailed them through
SEA Electric dealers. It notes that this is
a progression from retrofitting vehicles
designed for diesel engines, which is
where the local link with Hino began.
The move comes as traditional truck
makers, notably Daimler and Volvo,
are eyeing the Australian commercial
electric-vehicle (EV) market seriously,
along with and pure-electric or hydrogen
fuel-cell players.
“SEA Electric is privileged to be able
to bring this Australian first to the
marketplace,” SEA Electric regional
director for Oceania, Glen Walker, says.
“These trucks truly meet a need in the
marketplace, and prior to this launch,
we have received pre-orders for 46
vehicles from some of Australia’s biggest
companies and councils.
“It represents an exciting phase in
global EV development, and this places
SEA Electric at the forefront.”
Both models offer a range of motor,
battery, chassis and axle configurations.
At the top of the range is the SEA 500-
225, a 6x2 axle configuration, allowing
for a maximum body length of 9,240mm
and a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of
22,500kg.
The SEA 500-225 is available with a
“range-topping” 280kWh battery, with
full details of the SEA-Drive 280 power
system will be released shortly.
The medium-duty SEA 500 is available
in a pair of 4x2 configurations, with a
maximum body length of 8,930mm and
a GVM range between 14 to 17 tonnes.
Drivetrain options include the SEA-
Drive 120-35 and 180-35, which are both
powered by an electric motor producing
maximum torque output of 3,500Nm
and maximum power value of 350kW.
The 120-35 has a battery capacity
of 138kW/h and an un-laden range
of 175km, while the 180-35 features a
battery capacity of 220kW/h, and an
un-laden range of 200km.
The light-duty SEA 300 range is
available in a variety of wheelbase,
payload and body length configurations,
all with a 4x2 axle format, and GVMs
ranging from 4.5 to 8.5 tonnes.
“The SEA 300 range can be ‘specced’ up
with one of three motors,” Walker sys.
“The 700Nm torque and 127kW variant
powers the SEA-Drive 70-7, combined
with its 88kW/h battery it is perfect for
the car licence 4.5-tonne GVM truck.
“Ideal motors for up to 8,500kg GCM
are the midrange 1,000Nm of torque and
108kW of power for the SEA-Drive 100-10.
“If 1,000Nm is not enough, perhaps the
1,500Nm of torque and 125kW of power
from the SEA-Drive 100-15 is more to
your fancy?
“In addition to two motors, the SEA
300-85 is available with two different
batteries, providing capacities of 103kWh
through to 138kWh, which provide for
un-laden ranges from 210 to 300km.”
All SEA-Drive power systems are said
to have an operating temperature range
of -20 degrees C to 50 degrees C, with
empty to full charging times ranging
from approximately five hours for the
SEA-Drive 70, through to 12 hours for the
SEA-Drive 180 iterations.
The standard charging equipment for
all SEA-Drive models features a threephase
32amp on-board charger with
5-pin plug, charging at up to 22kW/h.
“A key feature of this charging
system is its access to the world’s
largest charging network, namely truck
workshop three-phase power,” the
company says.
Optional DC to DC fast-charging
increases the charging rate fourfold to
88kW/h.
”Real world testing of in-service
vehicles that travel up to 1,000
kilometres per week has revealed daily
recharging costs of less than $14 per day
using standard off-peak electricity prices
of 15c per kWh,” the company says, or less
if depot solar is used.
“Future proofed with an upgradeable
plug and play architecture, the SEA-Drive
Power-System can be charged using the
world’s biggest charging network, which
is 415V 3-phase power via the truck’s
standard on-board charging equipment,
with optional DC fast charging also
available.
“The fast charging option enables a
charging rate four times faster than
standard, and offers range extending topups
during lunch hour or vehicle loading.”
Roadside assistance is to be available
through NTI for the life of the warranty
period.
ITALIAN POWER FOR KOREAN TRUCKS
FPT INDUSTRIAL, headquartered in Turin, Italy, has been chosen as the preferred
engine supplier by TATA Daewoo Commercial Vehicles for the launch of the new
‘the CEN’, a semi-medium truck for the domestic South Korean market.
The CEN – whose name means ‘The Strong’ in Korean and ‘Complete, Efficient,
Needs’ for the rest of the world – is powered by an FPT Industrial Euro Dynamics
45 engine. FPT says it was chosen for its unique characteristics in terms of
superior power, torque, torque reserve, overall efficiency and compliance with
emission rules exhaust gas recirculation (EGR)-free.
Launched in 3, 4 and 5 tonne versions, the CEN features an eight-speed
automatic gearbox in the segment, fully pneumatic brakes, pneumatic
suspension seats and LED DRL.
Available in two versions with 186 or 206hp (139 or 154kW), the FPT Industrial
Euro Dynamics (ED) 45 engine is a member of the NEF engine family, sold
worldwide for all kind of applications – on road, off-road and marine – in
about 100,000 units per year.
FPT states that the ED 45 delivers up to 21 per cent more power and torque
up to 23 per cent higher versus competition in South Korea. Its HI-eSCR aftertreatment-system
is said to be EGR-free.
Stated benefits include better breathability (the engine breaths fresh air
only, instead of very hot and dirty recirculated gas), optimised packaging
and installation (being EGR-free the cooling circuit is smaller and easier to
accommodate), higher reliability (the whole cooling circuit operates at lower
temperatures), and up to 150,000km DPF service intervals due to passive
regeneration.
82 APRIL 2021 ownerdriver.com.au