Commercial and specialty EV battery supplier Microvast will supply Gaussin for its next generation skateboard road truck platform.
Gaussin specialises in design and assembly of electric and fuel cell vehicles for transport and logistics. It will integrate Microvast’s new generation of batteries for use in its electric and hydrogen skateboard platforms.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
Both companies will collaborate to develop a series of new skateboard road trucks for the logistics and transport sectors.
With vertical integration capability, Microvast said, it can provide a wide choice of different cell chemistries in its standard battery packs which can meet diversified technical requirements in terms of power, energy density and cycle life. Modularity gives Gaussin great flexibility in vehicle design.
Microvast reckons its batteries’ “excellent fast-charging capability, high energy density and outstanding safety features” can meet the surging demand from major logistics players to shorten charging duration and prolong charging interval.
Last April, Gaussin launched its claimed world-first “skateboard” for class 8 road trucks, tractor or carrier from 18 tons to 44 tons, with hydrogen or all-electric powertrain, “a rolling, versatile and modular platform intended for the various market players”.
The platform is aimed at traditional truck manufacturers as well as new entrants, body builders and other market players in the autonomous navigation software area.
The two firms expect to start building the first EV and hydrogen prototypes in “mid 2021” to test the vehicle performance.
Microvast will first supply Gaussin with its off-the-shelf MV-C battery pack and then offer an upgrade possibility through THE MV-I battery pack with an energy density of more than 180 Wh/kg.
The hydrogen version is a hybrid system WHICH uses high power batteries and a fuel cell to provide necessary power under varying conditions with the driving range extended to almost 400km (250 miles) thanks to the battery power.
The first prototypes are scheduled to be presented to major fleet and e-commerce companies in the US and Europe.
