'Not a competition:' Paccar’s electric and fuel cell trucks prove impressive in Rockies

A Peterbilt 579EV and Kenworth T680 FCEV (fuel cell electric vehicle) became the first Class 8 trucks equipped with electric powertrains to climb Colorado’s famous and challenging Pikes Peak Highway.PeterbiltPaccar’s recent and historic mountain runs show the company’s electric and fuel cell trucks have some advantages in taking on steep and winding roads.

A Peterbilt 579EV and Kenworth T680 FCEV (fuel cell electric vehicle) became the first Class 8 trucks equipped with electric powertrains to climb Colorado’s famous and challenging Pikes Peak Highway.

In addition to an average grade of 7%, the trucks were up against some tight turns and freezing temperatures which have been known to chip away range in EVs.

But in this case, the range of the powertrains and those hair-raising turns turned out to be impressive highlights for both trucks as they made repeated climbs up to the scenic 14,115-foot summit and back down.

Unlike their internal combustion counterparts, both trucks refueled during the descent thanks to regenerative braking.

According to Paccar, “over a 3-day period, the 579EV made the journey up Pikes Peak multiple times with ease, each time using the recovered energy from regenerative braking on the descent to recharge the high-density battery packs to repeat each climb with ease.”

Regenerative braking during the downhill runs from Pikes Peak charged up both the Kenworth T680 FCEV (shown here) and the Peterbilt 579EV.KenworthThe T680 fuel cell, an ongoing development between Kenworth and Toyota Motor North America R&D, also recharged its battery during the downhill trip.