Fully-electric commercial vehicles to hit Canadian roads this April
TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
On the heels of announcing it had purchased the first fully electric
small delivery vehicles, Canada Post today added the first all-electric
step vans in Canada to its fleet. The corporation showcased the first of
four all-electric commercial vehicles built by Navistar Inc., an
American manufacturer of medium and heavy trucks. The eStar™,
a Class 2c-3 electric truck and the first in its category, has a range
of 160 kilometres (100 miles) per charge and can be fully recharged
within 6 to 8 hours.
"Part of our environmental commitment is to evaluate and proceed with
alternate fuel technologies that will offer us a return on investment,"
said Deepak Chopra, Canada Post President and CEO. "Our trucks are in
every neighbourhood in the country everyday and we take pride in our
efforts to deliver to our customers in an environmentally responsible
way."
With zero tailpipe emissions, each eStar™ truck can reduce
greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 10 tons annually. The windshield
design provides nearly 180-degree visibility, the low-floor design
allows easy loading/unloading and the noise level is nearly non-existent.
Unlike other electric trucks that are reconfigured models of fossil-fuel
trucks, the eStar™ truck has been purpose-built for electric
power, providing a competitive advantage with a low centre of gravity
(the battery is between the frame rails, not mounted on top) and a
36-foot turning radius. The eStar™ is engineered with
superior aerodynamics, a walk-though cab and a quick-change
cassette-type battery that can be swapped out in 20 minutes, enabling
around the clock operation. It is capable of carrying payloads up to two
tons.
"For businesses, municipalities and other organizations that demonstrate
their environmental commitment, the eStar™ is a smart
option," said Mark Aubry, vice president sales and marketing, electric
vehicles, Navistar. "The eStar™ is enabling responsible
customers who strive to have a positive impact on the environment
through energy efficiency."
Canada Post has the largest delivery fleet in Canada — over 7,300
vehicles traveling more than 79 million kilometres a year. The company
has made investments in researching and testing alternative technologies
including ethanol, biodiesel, natural gas, propane, hydrogen, hybrids as
well as electric vehicles to reduce the environmental impact of its
fleet.
The eStar™ all-electric truck transitioned from concept to
reality in August 2009, when President Barack Obama visited Navistar's
manufacturing plant in Indiana to announce $39.2 million in American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds from the Transportation
Electrification Initiative administered by the U.S. Department of Energy.
The eStar™ is proudly sold at the Western International
dealership in Toronto and in partnership with Kemptville International
in Ottawa.
About Canada Post
With 71,000 employees and more than 6,500 post offices, The Canada Post
Group — including affiliates Purolator Courier and SCI Group, as well as
Innovapost (a joint venture with CGI), maintains the largest retail and
transportation network in the country. Canada Post delivered close to 11
billion pieces in 2009 to 15 million addresses across Canada, posting
$7.3 billion in revenue. Canada Post provides innovative physical and
electronic delivery solutions, creating value for our customers,
employees and Canadians. Canada Post has been chosen as one of Canada's
Top 100 employers by Mediacorp for the past four years and in 2009 was
named "Most Iconic Brand in Canada" by Brand Finance Canada. Website: http://www.canadapost.ca.
About Navistar
Navistar International Corporation (NYSE: NAV) is a holding company
whose subsidiaries and affiliates produce International® brand
commercial and military trucks, MaxxForce® brand diesel engines, IC Bus™
brand school and commercial buses, Monaco RV brands of recreational
vehicles, and Workhorse® brand chassis for motor homes and step vans. It
also is a private-label designer and manufacturer of diesel engines for
the pickup truck, van and SUV markets. The company also provides truck
and diesel engine service parts. Another affiliate offers financing
services. Additional information is available at www.Navistar.com/newsroom.
Navistar International Corporation
Media contact:
Steve
Schrier, 630-753-2264
or
Investor contact:
Heather Kos,
630-753-2406
www.eStar-EV.com
or
Canada
Post
Media Relations, 613-734-8888
[email protected]
or
Canada
Post
John Caines, 613-734-7675
Source: Navistar and Canada Post
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