Triton Completes Prototype of Electric Big Rig in 35 Days

Taking any vehicle – electric or otherwise – from conception to prototype takes a while. So the fact that Triton-EV was able to create an electric big rig in just over a month is a minor miracle.

Their creation is able to tow up to 220,000 pounds (similar to a comparable diesel truck), and it features a hybrid that includes a motor, onboard batteries, and a hydrogen fuel-cell generator that acts as a range extender – probably an essential component for a vehicle that’s often used for long-haul shipping and deliveries.

The hydrogen component makes the whole venture unique (to say the least). Automakers have grappled with the idea of fuel cells for years, with varying degrees of success, but it hasn’t penetrated the market in any significant way. Not like electric and hybrid vehicles, anyway.

“The reason we did it this way is that the hydrogen infrastructure is not there yet in the market,” said Triton-EV founder and CEO, Himanshu Patel. “At the same time, we can use the hydrogen as the range extender.”

Triton did apparently source the chassis, frame, and other major components from other vendors, but the rest was designed in-house, and a 35-day timeframe is no small feat.

The completed electric semi should clock in with a range of 300 miles, and it’ll supposedly cost somewhere from $150,000 to $250,000.