Panasonic Energy, a Panasonic Group Company, said its lithium-ion batteries will power the new Tern, a dedicated zero-emission truck brand along with its inaugural vehicle model, the RC8, a battery-electric Class 8 tractor tailored for the U.S. market. Tern is supplied by Hexagon Purus ASA and Hino Trucks. This is the first time Panasonic Energy’s batteries are being used in a commercial vehicle, the company said. The new truck was unveiled at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in Las Vegas.

This announcement extends from Panasonic Energy and Hexagon Purus’ partnership first announced in April 2023 and represents a significant step forward in transitioning the U.S. commercial vehicle sector from fossil fuels to electric power while supporting the establishment of a more American-based supply chain for the industry, the companies said. Built on Hino Trucks’ XL 4×2 chassis and equipped with Hexagon Purus’ zero-emission technology. Panasonic Energy said it will begin manufacturing batteries for Hexagon Purus’ Tern Trucks in Japan before delivering from its new U.S. production facility in De Soto, Kansas, which is currently under construction.

“Commercial and heavy-duty transportation represents critical infrastructure for the U.S. economy, and the rapid growth of the commercial EV industry underscores the need for innovative solutions in this sector,” Kazuo Tadanobu, CEO, Panasonic Energy, said. “Providing batteries for Tern and Hexagon Purus is an important step in helping us to drive the growth of the lithium-ion battery industry and accelerating the transition to zero-emission mobility.”

Heavy-duty fleet operators have a pressing need for more innovative platforms to add ZEV capacity to their fleets. Under the Advanced Clean Truck (ACT) standard, introduced by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), 5% of all new class 7 and 8 trucks sold in 2024 in California must be zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) while new additions to fleets of class 7 and 8 trucks operating to and from intermodal seaports and railyards are required to be ZEV from 2024. The ACT standard also requires 100% of truck manufacturers’ sales in 2040 to come from ZEVs, and has been adopted by seven other states in the U.S. (Oregon, Washington, Massachusetts, Vermont, New York, New Jersey, Colorado) Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York) with Maryland and North Carolina in the process of adopting the rule. In addition, according to a study published by market research firm P&S Intelligence, the U.S. electric truck market is expected to reach USD 15,143 million by 2030, with a CAGR of 54% from 2023. Heavy-duty trucks are expected to be the fastest-growing category.

Panasonic Energy said it continues to strengthen its lineup of automotive lithium-ion batteries and expand its production capacity, currently developing the new “4680” high-capacity lithium-ion battery in Japan.