Hexagon Agility Partners with Brudeli for Hybrid CNG Truck Powertrains

Hexagon Agility has entered a partnership with Brudeli Green Mobility to produce hybrid CNG/RNG Class 7 and 8 trucks for North America.

July 12, 2024

Matt Wolfe

The system offers 75 miles (120 km) of electric-only range. (Brudeli)

Hexagon Agility announced a collaboration with Norwegian EV transmission supplier Brudeli Green Mobility at the 2024 ACT Expo in Las Vegas. The partnership’s goal is the integration of Hexagon Agility’s CNG/RNG systems with Brudeli's plug-in PowerHybrid system. This technology will reportedly offer fleets the capability to maintain diesel ICE duty cycles while providing fuel cost savings and help OEMs achieve global decarbonization goals.

Brudeli’s PowerHybrid unit electrifies existing CNG/RNG trucks by allowing them to utilize up to 80-percent pure electric energy. (Brudeli)

“The Brudeli PowerHybrid enables fleet owners to retain the power, performance, and fuel cost-savings offered by natural gas engines, while simultaneously harnessing the efficiencies of electric,” said Eric Bippus, EVP sales & systems development, Hexagon Agility. “We believe hybrids could play a role in commercial trucking in the future, and we are excited to take an active role bringing that to the market.”

Brudeli’s PowerHybrid unit electrifies existing CNG/RNG trucks by allowing them to utilize up to 80-percent pure electric energy. The system is based around a dual electric motor system that enables the powertrain to alternate between serial and parallel hybrid modes. The system will reportedly allow trucks to operate at peak efficiency depending on factors such as vehicle speed, load, driving patterns and battery SOC.

According to Brudeli, its PowerHybrid unit enables transfer of power to the drive wheels during a gear shift. Brudeli claims that as much as 25% of acceleration power is lost during gear shifts. The unit can also perform regen duty when the truck is traveling down a grade or when reducing speed. The system also realizes efficiency gains by assisting the combustion engine at low efficiency areas of the motor curve and also turns the engine off engine when the vehicle is stationary or when standstill or when power take off is needed.

Brudeli states that this system provides flexibility for fleets to operate with clean energy options that are readily available. “There is growing awareness of the need to cut emissions from medium- and heavy-duty trucks, which make up more than 20% of overall CO2 emissions in the U.S. transport sector,” said Brudeli CEO Lasse Bjørkhaug. “Our partnership with Hexagon enables fleets in hard-to-electrify market segments to achieve zero-emission operation in sensitive areas, while eliminating range anxiety for longer trips with RNG. Additionally, fleet operators will benefit from trucks that offer superior electric-like performance without the same payload restrictions.”

The PowerHybrid plug-in battery system is capable of Level 2 charging. (Brudeli)

The PowerHybrid plug-in battery system is capable of Level 2 charging. The system offers 75 miles (120 km) of electric-only range. Brudeli claims that this is intended to be the first NZEV-compliant (Near Zero Emission Vehicle) technology commercially available in the U.S. market. Once NZEV certified, the Class 7 and 8 trucks with outfitted with Brudeli’s system would comply with the Advanced Clean Truck (ACT) rule, which has been adopted by California and ten other states.

Brudeli announced in December of last year that it had partnered with EMOSS to outfit a prototype truck with the Brudeli PowerHybrid module. Brudeli and Hexagon Agility plan to introduce the first pilot trucks with this technology in 2026, with serial production slated for 2028.