Power up

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The falling cost of battery packs, to less than US$197 per kWh, is the biggest driver of electrification in medium-duty truck applications. That was a message from Jim Castelaz, founder and chief technology officer of Motiv Power Systems, who was speaking about electrification at the Green Truck Summit here March 5.

Challenges to adoption remain, however, including range anxiety and a lack of charging infrastructure. Catelaz said his company has focused on the medium-duty segment for just those reasons, since those vehicles usually operate in low-mileage duty cycles, close to home.