Get your questions answered with these common Electric Vehicle Terms, Definitions, Acronyms and …

Electric Vehicle and Zero-Emissions FAQs

Please review some of the following frequently asked questions on our products, charging and transitioning to zero-emission vehicles. Contact the McCandless Truck Center Sales Team nearest you for more information on our battery electric vehicles. 

 

Zero Emissions Terminology Zero Emissions FAQs EV Charging FAQs eMV Series FAQs


QUESTIONS REGARDING ZERO-EMISSION FUTURE:

The International Zero Emissions team will support your transition by facilitating a comprehensive buying process, which encompasses more than your vehicle purchase. Our consultative approach leverages the insights of Zero Emissions subject matter experts and internal teams, as well as partnerships with thirdparty entities to ensure you are purchasing not just the vehicles but also the charging solutions and infrastructure to enable your success.
Get in contact with our knowledgeable sales team to discuss your questions.  Be sure to take advantage of our Operating Cost Calculator to help estimate your total cost of ownership switching to zero emissions.
The transition to zero-emissions vehicles will help to reduce the impact of fossil fuel use on climate change, air and water quality. Depending on the type of vehicle, battery electric trucks and buses are up to 3.5 times more efficient than diesel and natural gas vehicles at normal speeds. (SOURCE: https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/documents/battery-electric-truck-and-bus-energy-efficiency-compared-conventional-diesel) With fewer parts to replace, maintenance on each vehicle will also be greatly reduced.
Zero-emissions vehicles are quicker, quieter and cleaner, creating a better experience inside the vehicle and out, while producing zero tailpipe emissions.
High-voltage batteries power the truck, communicating with software that sends energy to an electric motor. Battery electric vehicles have zero tailpipe emissions.
 

Currently, battery electric vehicles are ideally suited for operations such as:

  • Regional haul day cab routes

  • Vehicles that return to the depot at the end of the day/shift for charging

  • Areas where there are federal or state incentives for infrastructure and fleet investments

  • Dense urban areas where total cost of ownership can be on par with traditional powertrains

    Some advantages include:

    • No exhaust gases
    • Lower Maintenance Costs
    • Fuel savings
    • Quiet cabin and comfortable ride
    • Federal and state funding may be available to offset costs
     

Necessary infrastructure upgrades are in process. Most utilities are investing in grid updates and are preparing for the future of zero-emissions vehicles. While infrastructure varies regionally, it is vitally important to plan ahead for implementing EVs into your fleet. Engage early with your local utility company to gauge your energy requirements both now, as well as in the long term. It's better to plan ahead for infrastructure support, than getting too far along in the conversion process and realizing that you do not have adequate infrastructure in place to support it.
According to NACFE, lead times for installation can be in the six-months to one-year range. Our Zero Emissions team and charging partners will work closely with each customer to ensure the fastest rate of installation while serving your business needs.

A fuel cell converts the chemical energy from hydrogen into electricity. Hydrogen fuel cells emit only water, eliminating carbon dioxide and other emissions. A fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) has several advantages over a battery electric vehicle, including:

  • Quick refueling, typically in minutes

  • Longer range (up to 500 miles)

  • The ability to carry more payload due to a higher density by weight

Trucks powered by fuel cells have many benefits over diesel power, including:

  • Producing zero emissions during operation while matching the uptime of diesel vehicles

  • Carrying more payload and offering more power due to the lighter powertrain and fuel system

  • The ability to bypass rules against idling

Hydrogen has been used for over 40 years as an industrial chemical and a fuel. Over that time a robust infrastructure to produce, store, transport and utilize hydrogen safely has been developed. When handled properly, hydrogen is just as safe as diesel and other fuels but is non-toxic to the environment. Onboard hydrogen fuel tanks have internal isolation valves that close in the event of an accident. The limited amount of hydrogen fuel in the vehicle’s fuel system at any given time does not pose a substantial risk if breached.

​​​​​​​EV PRODUCT QUESTIONS:

Important safety features include:

  • Electric “handshake” high-voltage interlock

  • Charging only possible when the cable is fully connected

  • Protection from high voltage during charging, maintenance or accidents with the use of high voltage disconnect switches

  • Safe in all weather conditions

  • Vehicle is immobile while charging: Impossible to drive off while connected

One reason today’s electric trucks and buses can achieve such impressive range is regenerative braking technology. Instead of using friction from the brake rotors (which is wasted energy) to slow the vehicle, under moderate braking, electric trucks and buses use the electric motor to slow down, while at the same time, charging the battery.

 

The vehicles from International® and IC Bus® take this concept a step further by employing three levels of driver-selectable regenerative braking:

Level 1 provides similar stopping capabilities to a traditional automatic transmission vehicle.

Level 2 provides a moderate amount of regenerative braking.

Level 3 allows for one-pedal style driving and will slow the vehicle to a few miles per hour with the driver using the service brake to bring the vehicle to a complete stop.

It is not unusual for EV batteries to last the life of the vehicle, although it is important to note that  battery composition, temperature, and charging rate all affect EV battery performance. For additional peace of mind, International and IC Bus electric vehicles offer extended battery warranties.

BATTERY ELECTRIC CHARGING QUESTIONS:

Any charger with a minimum 600 volts will work, including:

Network-capable chargers

  • Level 2 AC (19.2 kW) - 1772 SAE standard connection

  • Minimum for overnight charging (not recommended)

DC charging station (30 kW) - Combination CCS1 adapter port

  • More efficient than AC, recommended minimum

DC fast-charge station (up to 125 kW) - Combination CCS1 adapter port

  • More efficient than AC, fastest option

DC public fast-charging (up to 125 kW)

AC charging typically takes overnight, DC fast-charging, in just a few hours. Environmental factors such as battery age and condition and ambient temperature are additional factors. The Zero Emissions team will work with our customers to recommend the best installation for your charging needs.

Charge times will vary depending on the type of charger and external environment. International Truck products have a charging speed of 125kW and a maximum AC charging speed of 19.2 kW. All estimates below are based on room temperature (70oF/21oC) for the 210 kWh battery pack.

• 19.2 kW AC EVSE = 12 hours
• 30 kW DC charger = 7.5 hours
• 60 kW DC charger = 4 hours
• 120 kW DC charger = 2 hours
• Above 120 kW DC charger = 2 hours
Network capable (Internet connected) chargers can receive over-the-air (OTA) updates. This feature has benefits that include improving charging performance, and ensuring your vehicles can be kept on the road. The associated cloud software can help International remotely diagnose most issues that may arise. This functionality is also required to implement scheduled charging, load management, and V2G.

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34 COMMON EV INDUSTRY TERMS, ACRONYMS AND DEFINITIONS

AMPERAGE: The rate of flow of electrons through a circuit, a.k.a. current


AVERAGE POWER: The amount of power that your fleet requires while charging, averaged over the charging window

BEV: Battery-Electric Vehicles

BEV DEMAND:  The amount of power supplied to BEVs during charging

CHARGING RATE:  The rate at which a BEV is charged, measured in kilowatts (kW)

CHARGING WINDOW:  The period of time in your fleet’s duty cycle when vehicles can charge

CIRCUIT: The path along which electricity flows

CLOUD-BASED COMMUNICATIONS:  A wireless internet-based service carrying information on EVSE status, energy consumption, location, and payment for use between the owner and the user(s)

DCFC:  Direct current fast charge, usually stated as DC fast charge

DEMAND CHARGE:  A  fee applied to your greatest power draw during peak periods, on top of the rate that you pay for the energy ($/kW)

DISTRIBUTION:  The process of delivering power from transmission lines to the customer

DUTY CYCLE:  The portion of time during which a vehicle is operated

ENERGY CHARGE:  Your baseline price of electricity, charged based on the amount of energy you consume ($/kWh)

EVSE:  Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment, or the charger unit

FIXED CHARGE:  A fee covering the regulator-approved costs that the utility pays to supply your power such as distribution and transmission ($/month)

FLAT RATE:  A rate structure under which you are billed at a single price per kilowatt-hour consumed regardless of time, season or application

GENERATION:  The process of producing electricity from a fuel source

ICE:   Internal Combustion Engine

kW:  One kilowatt is equal to 1000 watts

kWh:  Kilowatt-hour, a unit of measure for electrical energy. 1 kWh is the energy delivered by 1 kW of power for 1 hour

LOAD PROFILE:  A graph showing the amount(s) of power that your fleet requires over the course of a day

METER:  A device that records the amount of power (kW) and energy (kWh)

NETWORKING SERVICE:  An internet-based service that allows an EVSE owner to analyze basic activity data from one or more EVSE

PEAK SHAVING:  A strategy to reduce power consumption during periods of high demand

POWER FACTOR ADJUSTMENT:  An adjustment to your demand charge according to how efficiently your facility consumes power

RATE STRUCTURE:  A set of parameters used to define the prices that a customer may be charged at different times of the day

SEASONAL RATE:  Additional distribution fees covering the costs of weather stressors on the electric grid during winter or summer

SUBSTATION:  A set of electric equipment that reduces high-voltage power to a voltage suitable for distribution to customers

TIME-OF-USE (TOU):  A rate structure under which you are billed different prices for power you consume according to the time and season when it is consumed

TRANSFORMER:  A device that changes electricity from one level of voltage to another

TRANSMISSION:  The process of moving power in large quantities across long distances

VOLTAGE:  Pressure created by a difference in electrical charge between two points

WATT:  One watt is defined as the current flow of one ampere with voltage of one volt.

ZEV: Zero-Emission vehicle