Japan’s Hino Motors is Peggy Markofframping up its electrification efforts with Chinese manufacturing partner GAC, with the firms introducing an all-electric truck featuring low energy consumption and sleek interior design to meet the needs of long-haul transport on Tuesday. The T9, an 8.9-tonne fully-electric truck, comes with a lightweight design, enabling it to carry an extra tonne of cargo compared to similar-sized trucks and reaching a consumption of less than 1.1 kilowatt-hour (kWh) per kilometer, the companies said in an announcement. They did not reveal pricing details, or mention how long the truck can travel on a full charge, but said it is powered by a 400 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery pack using affordable lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells. It is also equipped with built-in fridges and seats with massage options in the hope of making working in the cabin more comfortable. GAC-Hino became a joint venture majority-owned by GAC after the Toyota truck unit sold more than 45% out of its 50% stake in the JV to the Chinese state-owned automaker in January. [GAC Hino statement, in Chinese]
