UD Trucks shares fully electric autonomous truck vision

Commercial vehicle manufacturer, UD Trucks, a part of the Volvo Group, has launched an innovation roadmap, aiming to deliver smart logistics solutions such as fully electric and autonomous trucks towards 2030.

Fujin and Raijin. Vision 2030 reportedly focuses on the key areas of automation and electromobility to address the challenges of a rapidly-changing world. The innovation roadmap offers commercialised solutions of selected automation and electromobility applications from 3020, with a view toward full-fledged commercialisation by 2030.

According to UD Trucks, by 2030, demand for parcel delivery is expected to grow 50 per cent compared to 2014. To meet this demand, the commercial vehicle manufacturer, said that the logistics industry faces significant challenges, including a responsibility to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, the growing scale of online commerce, and driver shortages – believing that transformative innovations in automation and electromobility are key to overcoming these challenges.

“When delivering on our promise to provide the trucks and services the world needs today, we have always done things a bit differently from others in our industry,” said UD Trucks Chairman, Joachim Rosenberg. “As we now look forward, we are convinced that the world needs Smart Logistics.”

UD Trucks Senior Vice President – Technology, Douglas Nakano, said that since the launch of the New Quon in 2017, the manufacturer has moved steadily forward on its mission to drive the future of smart logistics.

“This new innovation roadmap represents a major leap forward for both the company, the logistics industry, and our society.

“We are committed to ensuring that our customers around the world feel the full benefits of the solutions and products we are developing, which will ultimately make life better for everyone in our society,” he said.

Over the course of 2018, UD Trucks will conduct demonstrations of autonomous driving and electric drive prototypes, targeting field tests and customer trials ahead of Tokyo Motor Show 2019. It aims to have vehicles in actual daily operation by the year 2020.

UD Trucks said it is focusing on solutions for safe, low-speed automation in confined areas, including in-plant and harbour logistics. It is also exploring on-road Highway Auto Pilot and CACC (Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control) platooning technologies in the near term, and more highly-automated on-road vehicles in the long term.

UD Trucks is committed to reducing the environmental impact of its products, and is developing technologies necessary to create silent, zero-emission vehicles that maximise energy efficiency, payload capacity and mileage. As battery systems continue to evolve, UD Trucks is testing a variety of solutions, including battery EV, parallel HEV and Series HEV.