There’s plenty of new technology in this week’s news plus more, including Santa, Siemens, Streamlining and Peter Langworthy.
Heavy Vehicle Industry Association (HVIA) President, Peter Langworthy, has chosen to step down from the HVIA Board. He has been President since October 2016 and a Director since 2015. Vice President Nathan Usher will fulfil all duties of the President until an Extraordinary General Meeting of members is scheduled by the Board.
HVIA Chief Executive Brett Wright said Langworthy’s contribution had been particularly valuable through the transition to a national association.
“Peter has been a generous contributor to our organisation and a wise counsel for many years,” said Wright. “We will greatly miss his passion, his strategic vision and his insightful perspective. More than any of that, he is a man of great character and integrity whom I’ve been honoured to work with. We all wish Peter the very best.”
Santa in a Truck
After regular appearances elsewhere in the world the Coca-Cola Christmas truck is coming to Australia. The bright red, and highly illuminated, truck is to spend its time in the lead-up to the festive season traveling with the Salvation Army to a number of regional communities.
The cavalcade is to bring more than 580 people from Coke and The Salvos, celebrity guests and volunteers to three areas. The Coca-Cola Christmas Truck Tour has set off this week ready to deliver some festive cheer to regional Australian communities that need some extra love.
“We’ve long been associated with the festive season and the joy it brings in the Northern Hemisphere, so we’re delighted to introduce it here with a uniquely Australian Christmas flavour,” said Lisa Winn, Coca-Cola Marketing Manager.
Electric Roads in California
In the US, Siemens and the South Coast Air Quality Management District are conducting a one-mile, zero-emission eHighway demonstration in Carson, California, near the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
Three trucks hauling freight are running along the stretch of highway that uses Siemens technology to electrify select highway lanes via an overhead catenary system. This catenary system supplies the trucks with electric power, similar to how modern-day trolleys or streetcars are powered on many city streets, and the system also allows for truck operation outside of the electrified sections of infrastructure.
Going with the Flow
XStream Trucking has launched, in the US, its aerodynamic device ‘TruckWings’ to address the gap between a prime mover and trailer when at highway speeds. The TruckWings’ design was developed through wind tunnel, track and road testing is automatically deploying large panels to cover the sides and top of the tractor-trailer gap.
The panels, made of high-impact, glass-reinforced composites, create a continuous connection between the truck and trailer so the air flows smoothly over the entire length of the truck. When the truck slows down, the panels retract without driver intervention, providing the necessary clearance for turns at any angle.
VW Group Investment
The Volkswagen truck group is reported to be set to spend $3.7 billion upgrading plants in Europe, Asia and Africa. 50 per cent of the spend will be on the main MAN plant in Munich, Germany. The pan is to build a major new cab paint shop plus improved research and development facilities.