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Battery of issues surrounds large-vehicle electrification Converting heavy-duty vehicles to battery power will require advances in weight reduction and thermal management. Autonomy kicks up some dust Machines that move, haul and plow earth can capitalize on autonomous systems today via increased safety and productivity in the field and significant cost savings. Digitalizing to deliver actionable data Mobile hydraulics expert details key trends in controls and IoT connectivity to improve machine design and end-user operations.

Big future for e-axles, advanced motors Top transmission engineers claim driveline electrification will transform everything from all-wheel drive to Class 8 tractor-trailers. Big data's benefits keep a-comin' Gigabytes of data are being collected and increasingly mined to improve field operations, maintenance and even vehicle design. Transformative times Despite a challenging climate, technology development progresses - as does the sharing of innovative ideas - virtually. Editorial Zeroing in on zero emissions Softing envisions secure, reliable predictive maintenance Reconstructing accidents in the ADAS age Paving the way to improved truck fuel efficiency Nikola looks to accelerate production, hydrogen infrastructure Mecalac designs unique-pivoting swing loader Q&A' Horiba's Joshua Israel discusses complex regulatory landscape's impact on commercial-vehicle development and shift to electrification.

Embedded systems help drive autonomy forward Kontron provides high-end knowledge for image processing, analysis with fewer control modules. Open approach to propulsion Deutz CEO sees combination of sustainable-fuel combustion engines and electric drive systems powering the off-highway market. Increasing connectivity, leveraging intelligence Parker Hannifin expert discusses IoT for mobile equipment and moving beyond standard telematics by integrating systems controllers and smart components. Cummins, Tula test 'dynamic' cylinder deactivation Tula's Dynamic Skip Fire technology already used in light-duty gasoline engines shows potential in heavy-duty diesels to significantly reduce NOx emissions. Supplier Directory Complete listing of industry suppliers categorized by technology area.

Shifting design of autonomous architectures Electronic controls centralize while providing commercial-level reliability. Next steps toward battery-electric Class 8 trucks Employing a common architecture and shared technologies allows Volvo Trucks to speed up electric-truck conversion, but battery technology and infrastructure still prove challenging. Moving metal AM forward Additive-manufacturing system providers still see technical and throughput challenges, but significant developments and market inroads will be made in 2020. ConExpo roundup New equipment launched in Las Vegas ranges from small electric machines to large next-gen excavators and everything in between.

ICE advances Engine developers employ revised electronic architectures, mechanical tweaks to boost fuel efficiency, performance of internal-combustion engines. Autonomous construction sites Equipment makers are testing the emerging technologies required to advance automation beyond individual machines. Modeling electric motors How to develop a traction drive using a multiphysics-based approach with 3D modeling and simulation. Solving the "telehandler problem" Two-stage overcenter valves create stability in machines with highly dynamic loads. Engineering the world's fastest tractor JCB worked with design and engineering specialists to build a spectacular speed record-breaker that topped 150 mph.

Heavy-duty engine design What are the most significant factors influencing the way engine developers approach near-term design and development cycles? Two experts provide their insights from recent programs. Reducing winter range loss for electric trucks Researchers at the Austrian Institute of Technology have developed an air exchange system that's capable of reducing heat load by 37% in real-world tests. Narrower focus, bigger payoff Design teams are targeting focused markets for their commercial electric-vehicle programs to combat challenges like range and infrastructure. Removing complexity for autonomous trucks Narrowing the operating domains for driverless commercial vehicles reduces the requirements of autonomous technology and speeds time to market. Plastics innovations 2019 The 49th annual SPE Automotive Awards highlight the ongoing benefits of lightweight polymers and composites.

On the verge of the Digital Age Increasingly connected electrohydraulic systems and machine controls allow the high degree of controllability that's essential for automated operations. Miserly power systems Engineers push engine, transmission technologies to turn off fuel usage. All options on the table Powertrain developers who spoke at SAE COMVEC are leaving no stone unturned in their quest to trim emissions. Cab air quality: A critical component of operator comfort Focus on defining cab air quality, measuring it, and designing the needed performance into cabin designs and HVAC systems is intensifying. Expanding fast charging faster Tritium works to accelerate installation of DC fast-charging infrastructure to keep up with growing demand for commercial EVs.

Electric machines find their niche Smaller machines working in cities are particularly ripe for electrification, but most off-highway applications will retain the internal-combustion engine. Big data, big benefits Data mining helps users and equipment developers use data from on-vehicle sensors to work more efficiently. Data connectivity in harsh environments Ensuring high-speed data transmission requires OEM designers to think more about components, placement and the impact of environmental conditions early in design. Trucks with intuition Perceptive Automata partners with Volvo Trucks to demonstrate AI technology that can determine when pedestrians will cross the road. Change is afoot Cummins and its CTO help focus the 2019 SAE COMVEC on the fast-shifting technology landscape that faces both on- and off-highway sectors. Editorial AI, ADAS & AVs-oh my!

Bullish on biomethane The CEO of CNH Industrial says biomethane is cleaner path than electric, as Case demos the alt fuel in cool wheel-loader concept. Unique hybrids required Power systems expert at Perkins stresses that on-highway electric solutions cannot be directly applied to the more-rugged and varied applications in off-highway. Getting driverless trucks onto roadways Autonomous developers at TuSimple address many technical issues, but they also must consider regulations and operating modes. Stronger, quieter cabs Worthington expert sees AHSS and active noise cancellation making off-highway cabs safer and less-stressful places to work. Hydrogen boom! Nikola reveals Two and Tre fuel-cell trucks and its H2 fueling roadmap, as well as battery-electric military and powersports vehicles. Rearview cameras come into sight Momentum is building behind replacing mirrors with camera monitor systems as the technology edges closer to regulatory approval.

Connections dig deeper More aspects of vehicle operation are being improved by leveraging cellular links. An OBE for the SAE Meet Paul Mascarenas-SAE International's 2019 president. He's a staunch advocate for professional development for engineers, amid the mobility industry's transformation. Advancing aftertreatment Engineers push for more efficient, cost-effective, and smaller aftertreatment systems for off-highway diesel engines, addressing challenges such as better particulate filtering and low-temp NOx conversion. Developing for defense Suppliers to the commercial vehicle segment optimize-read: ruggedize-their product offerings for the tougher terrain encountered by military vehicles. Going digital & electric @ bauma 2019 Digitalization and electrification are dominant themes in the equipment and technology being revealed at this year's largest trade show for construction and mining. Editorial Bigger barrier to CBEVs: Batteries or infrastructure?

Over-the-air affair Remote updating of software and firmware on commercial trucks and off-highway machines is on the rise, not only for maintenance functions but also to add new features like operator-assist technology. Developments in engine-based gensets With demand for generator sets steady and regulatory change settling, suppliers can rationalize their offerings and push improvements in areas like noise abatement and economy. Testing, testing and even more testing The commercial-vehicle market is eager to adopt more ADAS and automated-driving innovations, but before those technologies get to the road they must first pass rigorous testing practices that prove their efficacy. Smart and connected powertrains FPT Tech Day reveals multi-power Cursor X concept, other "4.0 innovations" for hydrogen fuel cell, electric and natural gas propulsion.

Electrification takes (some of) the load There’s no better way to relieve worry over meeting emissions regulations than by not producing any emissions from the start. But electric drive is not a silver bullet. Weight watcher Meritor optimizes product design and examines “exotic” materials like carbon fiber to slash mass from drivelines. Electrifying demo Diesel pioneer Deutz equipped telehandlers with hybrid and fully electric powertrains and put their capabilities on display. Automated and electric at IAA Far-out concepts and nearer-to-production prototypes dotted the show floor and outdoor demo track at the biennial commercial-vehicle event in Hanover, Germany. Delphi injects life into diesel Fuel-injection advances enable cleaner, quieter operation, while gains in power electronics and controls help grow electrification business.

Are higher voltage architectures imminent? As the limitations of current 12V architectures become more apparent, the commercial vehicle industry could be on the verge of adopting 48V. The only question is, will improvements in other technologies offer something better? Sensing changes in autonomous trucks Requirements for sensors and controls for commercial vehicles differ significantly from those used for cars. Many paths lead to reduced emissions A wide range of ICE technologies are needed to meet increasingly stringent emissions regulations. Quotes from COMVEC 2018 Industry leaders spoke extensively about all things autonomous-ADAS, big data, connectivity, cybersecurity, machine learning-at the annual SAE event. Here's some of what they had to say. Fuel-cell Class 8-take 2.0 With a longer-range and more-refined fuel cell-powered heavy-duty truck, Toyota aims to eventually eliminate emissions from trucks serving increasingly congested California ports.

Heavy-duty engine design Increasing regulations and market demands call for cleaner, more durable and fuel-efficient engines. Developers rely on CAE simulation, enhanced test methods and 3D printing to keep up. Switching to comfort mode Switches, knobs and touch panels evolve to reduce operator fatigue. Big on prognostics Smart data-analyzing procedures that support predictive maintenance will help to significantly increase the uptime of heavy-duty vehicles. The "Evolution of Big Data" symposium at SAE COMVEC 2018 addresses such critical topics. Starship road trip Optimized aerodynamics and production-ready technologies propel Shell's Class 8 concept to a 248% freight-ton-efficiency improvement.

Need: E/E architecture upgrade Bosch VP of Commercial Vehicle and Off-Road believes the business cases for electrification and automation, especially in trucking, are extremely promising. Diesel isn't dead Cofounder of Convergent Science defends the internal-combustion engine, fully expecting already-sophisticated designs to run even cleaner and more efficiently in the future. Fueling up fuel cells The new VP of Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies at Nikola shares his vision for the alt-fuel technology in trucking, along with the standards necessary for implementation. From gaming to engineering Theorem sees augmented, mixed and virtual reality transforming the way heavy vehicles are engineered and manufactured. Adding digital intelligence, connectivity to actuators Thomson believes truck and off-highway vehicles will increasingly integrate 'smart' actuators to enhance communication, control and performance.

Connectivity takes center stage Telematic links have become the norm, helping fleet owners and operators improve efficiency and letting OEMs predict component failures. More power, less noise, fewer emissions These key attributes drive development of new generators both big and small. TARDEC pursues advanced power generation U.S. Army, GM collaborate on fuel-cell-generated electricity to power the vehicle's propulsion system and onboard electronics, while providing off-vehicle power via an Exportable Power Take-Off unit. Developing an alternative engine concept Ricardo's CryoPower engine leverages two unique combustion techniques for reduced emissions and fuel consumption-liquid nitrogen and split combustion. Long-haul trucking and stationary power generation will be the first beneficiaries of the technologies. Technology time-warp The road to autonomous driving has been under construction for decades, as showcased by SAE's Mobility History Committee at the 2018 WCX in Detroit.

Electrification not a one-size-fits-all solution Efforts in the off-highway industry have been under way for decades, but the technology still faces implementation challenges. SuperTruck redux A year plus into phase two of the promising DOE program to dramatically improve freight efficiency, project leads from three of the participating truck OEMs share their progress thus far and technology paths moving forward. From research to reality Danfoss works closely with off-highway OEMs throughout the development process, testing and demonstrating machines packed with new technology features. Big Data a focus for 2018 SAE President Mircea Gradu Velodyne CQO sees use of Big Data as a way to capitalize on multiple industry trends including vehicle electrification and automated vehicles.

Meeting truck autonomy hurdles head-on Combining sensors, inter-vehicle communications and controllers poses major challenges in the effort to bring greater levels of automation to commercial trucking. Simulation key to additive manufacturing analysis Advanced simulation tools help to optimize 3D printing processes before physical build. Making the case for battery-electric fleet power Battery systems edge closer to a tipping point as commercial and heavy-duty fleets broaden their application. Electrified forklifts go big Hoist Liftruck brings full electrification to some of the biggest forklift trucks, motivated only in part by regulatory pressures.

Advances for off-highway engine design As manufacturers continue to drive out cost and meet a worldwide patchwork of regulatory frameworks, the tools for developing those engines are advancing. From showcase prototypes to advanced analytical techniques, suppliers are helping the cause. Military vehicles battle for autonomy at lower cost Engineers are adding sensors, more powerful micros and faster networks as they automate tasks and pave the way to autonomy. Heavy duty lightweighting Optimization of tractor-trailer systems and component design helps to reduce overall vehicle mass, a key strategy in improving fuel economy and meeting upcoming Phase 2 GHG regulations. Navistar's SuperTruck II explores composites, WiFi to cut weight Methane state of mind New Holland ramps up its focus on alternative fuels, showcasing a methane-powered concept tractor that trims emissions, operating costs.