Announcing a collaborative effort among Toyota Group, Hexagon Purus, and Hino Vehicles, the newly launched Tern model of heavy-duty electric vans appointed Hino Vehicles as its exclusive US distributor.
The Toyota Group has another key model, Hino Vehicles, which boasts a nationwide network of over 200 heavy truck dealerships and their customers, all brought together in the new joint venture with Hexagon to focus specifically on electrifying “practical” industrial vehicle applications.
As Glenn Ellis, President and CEO of Hino Vehicles, he enthusiastically expressed his support for the strategic partnership. “Our partnership with Hexagon Purus brings an exceptionally reliable Class 8, 4×2 tractor option to the electric truck market, addressing a range of applications.” As we proudly take on the role of exclusive distributors for Tern, our initial focus will be on California, a region where fleet electrification is paramount.
Tern RC8 electrical semi
The brand-new Tern RC8 electric truck boasts an impressive towing capacity of up to 68,000 pounds. With its impressive GVWR, the vehicle boasts a powerful 680 peak horsepower electric motor, delivering 494 steady horsepower, while offering a range of up to 200 miles and the ability to recharge from 0-80% in under two hours at 240 kW. Equipped with two state-of-the-art Hexagon Purus Gen3 battery packs totaling 269 kWh of energy storage capacity, the vehicle is powered by a robust 750-volt system capable of storing and delivering an impressive 538 kWh.
The announcement aligns with California’s Superior Clean Fuels regulation, announced today at the ACT Expo, being held this year in the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Serial production of the Tern RC8 is set to commence in the coming year.
Electrek’s Take
While it may seem paradoxical that a Toyota model will leverage Toyota’s existing dealer network, the fact remains worth highlighting: as Toyota publicly advocates against electric vehicles while simultaneously pouring significant investment into battery-electric technology.
As soon as Toyota develops a market-ready battery-electric vehicle (BEV), it will “suddenly” realize that BEVs have been the superior option all along. #guess
