GE Appliances Introduces First Autonomous Electric Pod Trucks On US Soil
Image via Einride
GE Appliances has teamed up with Sweden-based freight firm Einride to bring the first-ever self-driving electric pod trucks stateside.
The pods, which resemble rather sleek Transformers, will the first autonomous and electric trucks to officially run on US ground.
The initial fleet will head to the company’s 750-acre hub in Louisville, Kentucky, with others traveling to its locations in Tennessee and Georgia, as per Input.
In total, the company is expected to save over 970 tons of carbon emissions in just the first year, enabling it to greatly reduce its environmental footprint by making use of this more eco-conscious transport system.
This will mark the first use of autonomous trucks on US soil, as 2021 sees more electric vehicles take to the roads.
“Sustainability and cost-efficiency are prerequisites for implementing innovation into our business strategy,” said GE Appliances Vice-President of Manufacturing, Bill Good.
“The partnership and technology investment with Einride is allowing us to deploy safer, more sustainable, and cost-effective solutions for the movement and transportation of material.”
The firms told ZDNet that the trucks have been approved by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and pilot tests will be carried out at the facilities to work out any kinks in implementing the system.
Furthermore, if needed, the pods can be steered wirelessly via remote control by operators at the workstation.
Robert Falck, CEO of Einride, said this was an important milestone for the freight industry in the US, as it implemented an eco-friendly, remote-operated pod system for the first time at such a large scale.
“The system will allow GEA to reduce its environmental footprint and reap the benefits of Einride’s world-leading technology,” he said.
[via Input and ZDNet, cover image via Einride]
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