Diesel Truck Becomes Hybrid in Under Five Minutes
Startup Revoy offers a solution that turns existing semi-trucks into hybrids with a swappable electric add-on unit, dramatically cutting fuel consumption and emissions.
Startup Revoy offers a solution that turns existing semi-trucks into hybrids with a swappable electric add-on unit, dramatically cutting fuel consumption and emissions.
While fully electric trucks promise lower operating costs, their two to three times higher price compared to diesel equivalents, limited range, and lengthy charging times remain major hurdles for most carriers. San Francisco-based startup Revoy has developed an innovative approach that bypasses these issues by converting existing diesel trucks into hybrids using a separate, quickly swappable electric add-on unit.
Revoy's product is a self-contained drive unit nearly four meters long and weighing about 10 tons, which connects between the truck's fifth wheel and the trailer. Inside its housing is a lithium iron phosphate battery with a capacity of 575 kWh, powering an electric drive axle. When the driver presses the accelerator, the system detects the load and activates the electric motor to take on the heavier part of the work, relieving the diesel engine. During braking, the motor operates in regenerative mode, charging the battery and aiding deceleration.
The company's founders, Peter Reinhardt and Ian Rust, who previously gained experience at autonomous driving startup Cruise, designed the system based on principles of collaborative robotics. "Instead of removing the driver, we use robotics to change the fuel source," Rust explained to Bug.hr. The unit is also equipped with active safety systems that protect against rollovers and skidding, and supports blind spot detection and automatic reversing.
With the add-on installed, a standard truck hauling a total load of up to 36 tons can travel between 320 and 400 kilometers purely on electric power. According to company data, the average fuel consumption of a hybridized semi drops from the usual 30 to 40 liters per 100 kilometers to just 7 to 12 liters. On short stretches, up to 250 kilometers, consumption can be less than six liters per 100 kilometers. Additionally, carbon dioxide emissions are reduced by up to 85 percent.
The key advantage is the speed of swapping. Instead of lengthy battery charging, Revoy offers replacement of the entire unit in under five minutes. The company plans to develop a network of swap stations along key U.S. highways, and the entire system will be offered as a subscription service, allowing carriers to avoid large upfront investments.
After securing the necessary regulatory approvals in the U.S. and successfully completing a pilot project, Revoy is preparing for commercial operations later this year. The first route where the system will be used will be in the state of Oregon. This solution could be particularly appealing to carriers looking to reduce costs and environmental footprint without massive investments in brand-new electric trucks.
