One of the main current focuses to accelerate electric mobility in Uruguay is the incorporation of electric trucks in heavy transport, a critical sector for the decarbonisation of the country’s economy.
Consequently, to speed up the transition to heavy electric trucks, action must be taken on the supply side.
For this reason, Caracor S.A., one of the companies within the Paleson group, will be introducing two new heavy electric transport vehicles.
Similarly, Paleson will be adding to these new arrivals with an electric bus designed for long distances.
Regarding the trucks that will be entering the market, one of them is the Windrose EV model, a revolutionary vehicle at the Latin American level, as it promises a range of 900 kilometres.
This truck, similar in design to the well-known Tesla Semi but of Chinese manufacture and with features at a lower cost, is set to revolutionise logistical transport in the region.
“It is a truck that has not yet been mass marketed, but thanks to our strategic partnership with the manufacturer in China, we have the opportunity to be pioneers in its commercialisation,” explains Osvaldo Sánchez, Director of Paleson.
Another model arriving in the country in the near future is an electric truck from the Dayun brand, which has a range of 240 kilometres and can tow a total of 56 tonnes.
Currently, this model is used by a sugar mill in Costa Rica.
However, the version that will arrive in Uruguay will have some adaptations, since one of the companies that will use it will be UPM, a cellulose plant.
“Due to the requirements of UPM, some details will be changed in the configuration of the model that will be introduced into the country,” explains Sanchez.
Finally, Paleson’s third entry is a route bus that can travel long distances and be used in the tourism sector.
This vehicle belongs to the Guangtong Vehicle brand and will be able to travel more than 400 kilometers on a single charge, solving the problem of loss of storage capacity that electric buses often have due to lithium batteries.
This model combines galvanized steel, aluminum and fiber bodies, significantly reducing its weight without compromising autonomy and load capacity.
Charging infrastructure: a crucial challenge
One of the biggest challenges for the adoption of heavy electric vehicles in Uruguay is the charging infrastructure.
Although the country has made progress in electric mobility, according to Sánchez, the current infrastructure is not fully prepared to support the load required by these vehicles.
However, Paleson is proactively addressing this issue.
The company has installed approximately 46 chargers in Uruguay, which together add up to more than 2.2 megawatts of charging capacity.
These chargers range from 30 kW DC to 180 kW, with plans to introduce 240 kW and 480 kW Superchargers.
The 480kW Superchargers in particular are being developed for heavy-duty transport projects, enabling charging times of just 35 minutes, which is essential to keep heavy-duty trucks operational, which can consume up to 24,000 kW of energy per month.
A comprehensive approach to electric trucks
Faced with the latent challenge of making heavy electric transport a reality, the company offers a comprehensive solution that includes the study of the impact of the vehicle on the client’s fleet, the installation of charging systems, load management and training in the use and maintenance of the vehicles.
This approach seeks to ensure that the transition to electric mobility is efficient and profitable for customers.
As for future prospects, Paleson is in talks with logistics companies in Argentina and Uruguay, and hopes that its electric trucks will become a viable option to reduce costs and emissions in heavy-duty transport.
To learn more about electromobility in Latin America, visit Mobility Portal Latinoamérica.
