XL Hybrids Inc., a provider of connected fleet electrification solutions for commercial and municipal fleets, has announced the launch of the company’s new product line, the XLP plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) upfit solution.
According to the company, the XLP will be a “Fleet-Ready” solution offered as a ship-thru upfit on half-ton pickup trucks from leading original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and will provide a 50% improvement in miles driven per gallon for major fleets across the U.S., as well as significant reductions in CO2 emissions.
“Expanding our offering to include plug-in solutions is the next step in our plan to electrify fleet vehicles with technology that saves money, while reducing oil consumption and emissions,” says Tod Hynes, founder and CEO of XL Hybrids. “The XLP system allows fleets to purchase the same, roadworthy OEM pickup trucks they always have – OEM powertrain and warranty fully intact – now with a proven electrified powertrain from XL Hybrids to significantly increase MPG.
“Fleets will have peace of mind knowing that their work truck will get the job done, with the same access to existing service infrastructure that fleets have always enjoyed,” he adds.
Utility and municipal fleets such as San Diego Gas & Electric Co., Liberty Utilities, Hawaiian Electric Co. and Montgomery County Maryland are among the North American customers that intend to purchase XL Hybrids’ XLP PHEV system, once available, for use in their pickup fleets.
As reported, XLP ship-thru deliveries to fleet customers will begin in the fourth quarter of 2017.
“Major fleets that have already adopted the XL3 hybrid-electric upfit system know and trust that XL Hybrids is ‘fleet ready’ because we deliver on our promise of products that do not compromise fleet operations – and we will do the same with our new XLP system,” says Clay Siegert, XL Hybrids’ co-founder and chief operating officer. “Our technology will be the first plug-in solution that is available for tried-and-true commercial pickup trucks for fleets today.”
XL Hybrids says it surveyed fleet managers to understand their most critical requirements and developed the technology based on customer demand for hybrid electric plug-in technology on commercial work trucks from the OEMs. The new XLP solution will build on the platform product technology used on the company’s XL3 hybrid-electric powertrain. The XLP lithium battery pack will be over 10 kWh and will accommodate Levels 1 and 2 charging using an industry-standard plug, the company adds.
“Because our XLP plug-in hybrid electric solution leverages our hybrid-electric driveline technology already proven over millions of fleet road miles, XLP will provide fleet customers with unprecedented reliability, vehicle uptime and drivability for a plug-in hybrid pickup truck solution,” says Edward Lovelace, XL Hybrids’ chief technology officer.
The XLP PHEV system can be installed in just hours and leaves the OEM engine, transmission, fuel system and exhaust system completely intact. Fleets will maintain the complete OEM warranty and get a three-year, 75,000-mile warranty from XL Hybrids on the XLP powertrain. The XLP system will have no special maintenance requirements.
The company adds that the XLP will also include the XL Link cloud-based big data analytics system, which measures MPG performance and reports carbon-dioxide emissions reductions.
