Roush CleanTech Enters Electric Vehicle Market
The company, best known for its propane fuel systems, expands its alt-fuel portfolio with electric vehicles built on the Ford F-650 chassis.
While Roush’s unveiling at the ACT Expo was a Ford F-650 truck, the company said it also sees the school bus market as a good fit for an electric product.
While Roush’s unveiling at the ACT Expo was a Ford F-650 truck, the company said it also sees the school bus market as a good fit for an electric product.
LONG BEACH, Calif. — Roush CleanTech has revealed a new entry in its alternative-fuel propulsion portfolio: electric vehicles.
In the pupil transportation industry, Roush CleanTech is best known for its propane autogas fuel systems that power Blue Bird and Micro Bird propane school buses. The company also supplies compressed natural gas and gasoline systems.
At the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in Long Beach on Tuesday, Roush unveiled an all-electric Ford F-650 truck. Todd Mouw, president of Roush CleanTech, said that the company is starting its electric venture with class 6-7 vehicles “because there’s a need there.”
While the unveiling at the ACT Expo was a medium-duty truck, Mouw noted that the company also sees the school bus market as a good fit for an electric product.
“We think school bus is another great opportunity to take this technology and move it there based on our expertise and knowledge of that customer need,” he said at the ACT Expo.
(After the event, a company spokesperson told SBF that there are no concrete plans at this point for a school bus application.)
Roush CleanTech’s new electric vehicles, built on the Ford F-650 chassis, will have a lithium-ion battery system of up to 225 kilowatt-hours and 700 volts. Depending on gross vehicle weight rating, the average range will be up to 120 miles, with a top speed of 75 miles per hour, according to the company. The AC permanent magnet motor will have a continuous-rated power of 150 kilowatts (200 horsepower), with a peak-rated power of 250 kilowatts (335 horsepower).
“An electric battery option for medium-duty trucks and buses is a great fit, as there is increasing demand in this gross vehicle weight range with very few OEM solutions,” Mouw said. “We are excited to leverage the company’s product development, supply chain, manufacturing, and customer service expertise to support the expected growth in the medium-duty electric vehicle market.”
Roush CleanTech is currently participating in Ford’s eQVM process to become an Advanced Fuel Qualified Vehicle Modifier for electrified powertrains for commercial vehicles.
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