Watertown, Massachusetts – Navistar has announced an agreement with lithium-ion battery supplier A123 Systems to develop electric trucks. A123 will develop lithium-ion battery systems for the Navistar Modec Electric Vehicle Alliance, a joint venture of Navistar and engineering contractor Modec.

Rather than converting an existing fossil fuel-powered truck, Navistar’s electric vehicle (EV) will be purpose-built as a zero tailpipe emissions Class 2c-3 truck. It is expected that the A123 battery systems will be manufactured in the company’s facility in Livonia, Michigan, which is expected to open later this month.

The Navistar EV has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVW) of 12,100 lbs (5,488 kg) and a payload capacity of 2,000 lbs (907 kg). The vehicle will be assembled in Indiana and is scheduled for launch in mid-2010.

The truck will have a range of approximately 160 km before recharging. The battery pack will be capable of a rapid charge rate and will have a charge time dependent on the power of the charging system applied.

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