Zeus Electric Chassis has announced it will showcase an all-electric bucket truck concept featuring a custom-engineered Reading Truck Classic II service body and a Terex Hi-Ranger LT40 aerial device upfitted to the Class 5 Zeus Z-19 Electric Smart Chassis. The 19,500 GVWR truck was displayed at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo 2023.
The all-electric bucket truck is designed for medium-duty applications. Its Zeus Z-19 platform is currently the only vocational Class 5 chassis awarded a CARB EO and related HVIP funding eligibility.
“Fleet transition to electrification is a complex and long-term process, but we can mitigate these impacts by demonstrating solutions that address additional power capacity,” said Jim Steffes, vice president of business development and strategy for Zeus. “High-powered tools draw greater current, often in short bursts, causing additional thermal loads and decreased capacity. Power, payload and performance are equally important to fleets and other industry stakeholders, and we’re working with Terex and Reading Truck to address all of these.”
“As a leader bringing the first EV distribution 55-ft. class bucket truck to the industry, we support Zeus’ development of a super-duty application. When this truck is ready for the market, we expect to be right there with Zeus,” said Joe Caywood, director of marketing and product manager for Terex Utilities. “The Hi-Ranger LT40 aerial device is powered by a Terex HyPower SmartPTO system by Viatec, an ePTO solution that powers the outriggers and all aerial boom functions at 28.8 kwh and is independent of the vehicle power source.”
J.B. Poindexter and Co., Inc. business units The Reading Truck Group and EAVX, its innovation hub, provided the service body for the all-electric truck on display.
“Reading Truck has been a leading manufacturer and distributor designing work truck bodies for more than 65 years,” said EAVX COO and GM Mark Hope. “Alongside JBPCO’s newest innovation hub, EAVX, this partnership demonstrates our commitment toward next-generation EV solutions, while leveraging the decades of experience in the industry.”
Zeus Electric Chassis is committed to developing electric vehicle solutions that meet the needs of fleet operators across various industries. With the support of partners like Terex and Reading Truck Body, the company is positioned to bring its GEN 3 and GEN 4 all-electric trucks to market and to help accelerate the transition to sustainable transportation.
