The Quicksider: ArvinMeritor's greenfield approach to 'green' vehicle design

─ Battery-powered, zero-emission package van

─ Collaboration of ArvinMeritor, Unicell, Purolator Courier

─ Expands the ROI equation beyond fuel to include productivity, cargo capacity, ergonomics, maintenance

Conserving fuel and reducing greenhouse gas emissions are important to Purolator Courier, Canada’s largest overnight parcel carrier. But the company expects more from its alternative-powered vehicles than fuel savings and a smaller carbon footprint, says Serge Viola, national fleet manager. The trucks must boost productivity and reduce operating costs, too, 

That’s a tall order for traditional hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs). “Our HEVs are 37 percent to 40 percent more fuel efficient than our gasoline-powered vans, but they use the same body type,” Viola says. “They do nothing to improve cargo capacity, ergonomics, maintenance, or aerodynamics.”

Beyond Fuel Economy

In its search for benefits beyond reducing fuel costs and emissions, Purolator embarked on a greenfield approach to package-van design.

It partnered with ArvinMeritor and Unicell, a Toronto-based designer of truck bodies, to produce a lightweight, battery-electric vehicle (BEV) prototype package van called the Quicksider. Designed for urban routes with 80 to 150 discrete stops, the Quicksider has a range of roughly 65 km (40 miles) on a single charge. 

ArvinMeritor’s BEV drivetrain system uses corner drive modules instead of a traditional powertrain. Each module includes a traditional wheel-end package with disc brakes; an electric motor to drive the wheel and provide both regenerative braking and slip/traction control; and an electronically-controlled pneumatic suspension. 

Performance Advantages

While the Quicksider meets Purolator's criteria for energy efficiency and zero emissions, its electric powertrain also allows the truck and driver to be more productive. With no engine, transmission, driveline, or rear-axle differential, the Quicksider has performance advantages that a conventional step van or delivery vehicle does not:

• The corner drive module's pneumatic suspension has 9 inches of travel. The Quicksider can "kneel" to curb level, which reduces the physical demands on the driver because he can roll dollies and carts in and out of the cargo area without steep ramps or steps. 
• The floor is flat throughout the vehicle—there are no "humps" above the axles or transmission. This gives the driver a clear aisle where he can easily roll packages through the front or rear doors, whichever is more convenient or efficient.
• The Quicksider's floor is only 14 inches off the ground, compared to 31 inches on traditional step vans bodies. The vehicle's lower vehicle profile improves ergonomics by eliminating roughly 200 steps a day for the driver. It also allows for a more aerodynamic body design. 
• The lack of an engine, differential, or transmission combined with regenerative braking is expected to reduce maintenance costs by at least  33%. The Quicksider has no belt-driven or gear-driven accessories to replace or maintain, and no engine that requires oil changes, filters, fuel injectors, and so on.
• The Quicksider is a true ZEV while in operation. Emissions related to charging the battery are expected to be less than 20% of those produced by a conventional gasoline-powered curbside delivery vehicle.

The Quicksider's electric motors deliver a combined 187 hp (140 kW) and a top speed of 110 km/h (65 mph) using power from sodium nickel chloride batteries. A next-generation lithium-ion polymer battery system promises an extended driving range, longer lifecycle, and more compact physical profile. ArvinMeritor expects further performance and cost improvements through a more tightly packaged trailing arm suspension design and the use of the four-piston Meritor® Quadraulic disc brake calipers.

Market Acceptance

ArvinMeritor predicts that regulations and high fuel prices will contribute to the transition from fuel to electrical storage. However, market acceptance of BEVs will hinge on their ability to produce operational efficiencies. 

Purolator believes that drivers who breathe cleaner air, work in a quieter vehicle, and walk fewer steps in a day tend to be more productive and happier on the job. And by eliminating high-maintenance components, the company can service more vehicles with the same number of technicians and maintenance bays and significantly reduce parts inventories.

ArvinMeritor's corner drive module is available now for a broad range of medium-duty BEV applications, including parcel pickup and delivery; shuttle buses; government/utility vehicles; emergency services; and military.