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Paccar offers mechanics EV course for electric Kenworth

Kenworth has launched an EV technician training and certification program as part of its efforts to prepare Kenworth dealerships to service electric vehicles in the United States and Canada.

“It’s vitally important to support Kenworth’s “Driving To Zero Emissions” endeavor to bring battery electric vehicles into the marketplace by ensuring that we help provide in-depth training and a certification path for service technicians at Kenworth dealerships,” says Jim Walenczak, Kenworth assistant general manager for sales and marketing.

To attain initial EV certification, Kenworth says its technicians must successfully complete a challenging seven-course curriculum on service systems, electrical principles, electrical systems, electrical systems II, cab and chassis electronics, electric vehicles systems, and advanced electric diagnostics. Course length runs from two to four days. The Kenworth program offers a variety of classroom and virtual training.

In the US Kenworth offers a product line featuring the Kenworth T680E, K370E and K270E battery electric vehicles.

Designed for pickup and delivery, regional haul and drayage applications, the T680E is available as a day cab as either a tractor or straight truck in a 6×4 axle configuration. The model is offered in an 82,000 lb. (36.7 tonne) gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). The T680E is equipped with 536hp (400kW) continuous power and up to 670hp (500kW) peak power and 1,623 lb.-ft. (2200Nm) of torque and has a top speed of 70mph (112.6 km/h).

The zero emissions vehicle has an estimated operating range of 240km, depending on application. Kenworth says the T680E uses the industry standard SAE CCS1 charge port and can be fully charged in approximately three hours with the battery electric vehicle featuring Meritor’s Blue Horizon 14Xe tandem electric powertrain.

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On the smaller side of Kenworth’s electric offerings the K270E and K370E battery electric vehicles offer direct-drive motors rated at 355hp (265kW) for the K270E and 469hp (350kW) for the K370E. The electric powertrain is available with high-density battery packs of 141kWh and 282kWh that deliver up to 100 (160km) and 200-mile (320km) ranges, respectively.

Both models utilise a DC fast-charging system capable of fast re-charge in as quick as one hour, which Kenworth says makes the K270E and K370E cabovers ideal for local pickup and delivery, as well as short regional haul operations. End-of-shift and overnight AC charging is also offered.

In addition, the zero emissions Kenworth T680 fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) model powered by hydrogen is part of a demonstration test project currently being run in Southern California.

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