Thor’s electric Class 8 tractor is slated to enter production next year.
UPS announced Tuesday it is collaborating with electric truck startup Thor to develop and test a fully electric Class 6 delivery truck in Los Angeles, Calif., later this year.
Carlton Rose, UPS president of global fleet maintenance and engineering, says UPS will test the medium-duty electric delivery truck as part of its fleet for six months. Testing will include off-road evaluation to address durability, battery capacity, technical integration, engineering and any items found during on-road testing. Depending on the success of the deployment, Rose UPS may make additional purchases of the vehicle.
“UPS believes in the future of commercial electric vehicles,” Rose says. “We want to support the research needed to make advances and the companies developing those innovative products. Performance is critical in our fleet. We are excited to get this vehicle on the road to test how it handles routes in and around Los Angeles.”
Thor Trucks CEO and co-founder Dakota Semler says the chance to work with UPS is valuable opportunity for his company to gain insight into what it will take to bring electric trucks to market.
