After experimenting with mixture and hydrogen-powered prototypeKenworth reveals electric version of T680 vans called the T680E at CES 2022. It’s not the company’s first battery-powered traction device, but it’s the largest and heaviest member of the range by a wide margin.
Kenworth notes that it has designed its latest EV for pick-up and delivery, regional shipping, and pleating applications. Specifications are relatively vague, but the Meritor-derived powertrain delivers 536 horsepower continuously, 670 horsepower maximum power, and 1,623 pound-feet of torque. The T680E has a top speed of 65 mph, which is the speed limit for semi-finals in some states, and its estimated range is 150 miles. That’s the low end considering some diesel-powered trucks are capable of making a 300-gallon bucket that lasts about 2,000 miles.
Nothing about the Class 8 T680E on display at CES suggests it’s electric; Design cues like the long front end with a bright, vertical grille make it look like a diesel-powered model. Much of the powertrain’s electronics are hidden under the hood. It will initially be available as a tractor (meaning set up to tow trailers) or as a straight truck (with a box behind the cabin), and both configurations will offer riders uses a daytime cab and a 6×4 axle configuration. Buyers will be asked to choose between a gross vehicle weight rating (GWVR) of 54,000 to 82,000 pounds.
Like the K370E and K270E, which are Class 7 and Class 6 trucks, the T680E can be plugged into stations built by PACCAR Parts with outputs ranging from 20 to 350 kilowatts. Fleet operators can work directly with the PACCAR Division to design a network to suit their needs; some may require an overnight truck charging station, while others may require a dozen (or more) fast chargers. Kenworth says that, under ideal conditions, the T680E could be big the battery The pack can be fully charged in about three hours.
Pricing for the T680E has yet to be announced.
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