ZERO-EMISSION
TRUCKING TESTBED
Driving into the future:
Real world testing of zero-emission heavy-duty trucks.
The Zero-Emission Trucking Testbed, in collaboration with Transport Canada and FPInnovations’ PIT Group, is working jointly with Loblaw Companies Ltd. and Martin Brower of Canada Co. to gather real-world data on incorporating Class 8 Zero-Emission Vehicles (ZEV) into their fleets. Over a year of daily operations within the Greater Montréal area, this Testbed will provide essential data to help accelerate the decarbonization of emission-intensive on road freight. The objectives include sharing this knowledge with Canadian fleet owners to boost their confidence in transitioning to ZEVs. The on road pilot will deliver real-time operations data and user experiences from owners, operators, and maintenance teams.
Context
– Track and analyze the performance of two Freightliner e-Cascadia, three Volvo eVNR, two diesel Freightliner Cascadia, and three diesel Volvo VNR vehicles transporting goods within the Greater Montréal area.
– Collect data over a period of one year, with each truck covering a minimum of 24,000 km.
– Analyze vehicle performance and data both in typical operational settings and controlled testing environments.
Objectives
– Monitor the performance and reliability of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) in Canada, including the necessary charging infrastructure and driver acceptance.
– Assess the technical requirements, skill sets, and costs associated with deploying electric trucks in commercial operations.
– Compare energy consumption of electric vehicles with diesel equivalents.
– Evaluate the adequacy of charging infrastructure to support commercial operations.
– Analyze the ease and practicality of deploying electric trucks in various operational settings.
PHASE 2
TESTING
Long-Term On Road Testing
– Monitor and assess the daily operations of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) in two fleets over a one-year period.
Short-Term Controlled Testing
– Conduct efficiency and payload tests on closed testing grounds to evaluate the trucks’ performance at their manufacturer-rated limits.
User Experience
– Perform a human factors evaluation to collect feedback from trucking fleets on their experiences and challenges with adopting zero-emission vehicles.
PHASE 3
REPORTING
Weekly & Monthly Reports
– Provide summaries of key tracked metrics, including distance driven, payload, charging times, and battery state of charge at the end of each shift. These metrics will be graphed and analyzed to identify trends and insights.
Final Report
– Deliver a comprehensive and detailed analysis of the full year’s data collection. This will include a breakdown of the methodology, results, and a general discussion on the performance of the ZEVs, considering factors such as routes, payloads, and environmental conditions.
Final Stakeholder Workshop
– Present the results and facilitate a final discussion with stakeholders, sharing insights and lessons learned from the fleets’ experiences with zero-emission vehicles throughout the year.
STAKEHOLDER ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
– Oversee the project and facilitate communication among all stakeholders.
– Organize and deliver technical orientations and awareness training sessions.
– Develop and implement the Testbed study plan.
– Analyze collected data and compile a comprehensive final report.
– Integrate zero-emission vehicles into commercial operations, including logistics planning and driver training.
– Participate in technical orientations and provide drivers to offer feedback on their experiences.
– Supply data for analysis, including maintenance records and operating costs.
– Offer engineering and mechanical support to ensure the optimal performance and reliability of their products.
– Ensure compliance with regulations and implement a comprehensive safety strategy to mitigate risks.
– Collaborate with local first responders and roadside inspectors to share incident and collision safety information.
– Provide training for drivers, mechanics, maintenance staff, logistics personnel, and first responders.
PHASE 1: TECHNICAL ORIENTATION AND AWARENESS
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT WORKSHOP
Objective:
Present and review the Testbed plan, highlighting stakeholder roles and responsibilities.
Delivered by:
FPInnovations
TECHNICAL ORIENTATION TO ZERO-EMISSION TRUCK SAFETY
Objective:
Provide orientation on battery electric truck safety considerations.
Delivered by:
FPInnovations, ABB E-mobility, Globocam Montréal-Est, Lion Electric, Volvo Trucks Canada
FLEET TRAINING ON BATTERY ELECTRIC TRUCK USE
Objective:
Train employees on their roles and responsibilities for operating and maintaining battery electric vehicles.
Delivered by:
FPInnovations, ABB E-mobility, GloboCam Montréal-Est, Volvo Trucks Canada
FIRST RESPONDER INFORMATION SESSION FOR BATTERY ELECTRIC TRUCKS
Objective:
Review key identification methods, safety protocols, and best practices to support first responder interventions.
Delivered by:
Cégep de Saint-Jérôme (in French only)
PHASE 2: TESTING
Long-Term On Road Testing
– Track and analyze the performance of two Freightliner e-Cascadia, three Volvo eVNR, two diesel Freightliner Cascadia, and three diesel Volvo VNR vehicles transporting goods within the Greater Montréal area.
– Conduct data collection over 12 months, ensuring each vehicle covers more than 24,000 km.
– Gather user experience data through interviews and group consultations.
Short-Term Controlled Testing
– Evaluate the performance of each Class 8 truck using internationally recognized test procedures in a controlled proving grounds environment.
– Test the trucks under various representative operating conditions.
– Collect data on energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and operating costs for comparison between zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) and diesel trucks.
FREIGHTLINER – eCASCADIA
VOLVO – VNR ELECTRIC
INSTRUMENTATION & DATA COLLECTION
Long-Term Data Collection Process
Short-Term Data Collection Process
• Original Equiment Manufacturer telematics
• FPInnovations telematics and data logger
• Engine outputs
• Energy consumption
• Driving operations
• GPS logged data
• Battery information & State of Charge (SOC)
• Original Equipment Manufacturer telematics
• FPInnovations telematics and data loggers
• Variation of State-of-Charge (SOC)
• Charging time & energy delivered
• Original Equipment Manufacturer
• FPInnovations dataloggers
• Route characteristics
• Advanced weather data
• Payload
• Maintenance records
• Logistic & dispatch system
• Preventive maintenance records
• Repairs and breakdown records
• Payload
• Operational costs
• Survey, interviews, and consultation
• Usability
• Practicality
• Driver feedback
• Fleet feedback
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