As interest in electric vehicles grows, Hyliion Holdings Corporation is the newest company to enter EV manufacturing. Expected to arrive in 2021, the negative net-zero-emission hybrid Hypertruck ERX promises to reduce the trucking industry’s reliance on fossil fuels.

Not only does the Hyliion Hypertruck use an alternative fuel source, but it also boasts performance capabilities unlike any other EV competitor in the transportation sector.

The Hyliion Hypertruck ERX

Hyliion is attempting to transform the trucking industry with the Hypertruck Electric Range Extender (ERX). Based in Austin, Texas, and founded in 2015, the forward-thinking company designed a natural gas-powered system that can convert a diesel-powered truck into a hybrid.

The Hyliion Hypertruck ERX uses a fully electric powertrain that can be easily retrofitted into a semi from any of the largest truck manufacturers. FEV North America will partner with Hyliion to commercialize the long-haul Hypertruck ERX by outfitting Class 8 trucks with the advanced powertrain technology.

The Hyliion truck can get more than 1,000 miles of range through the combined power of an onboard generator and fully electric drivetrain. The seven-year cost of ownership for trucking companies will be drastically reduced, compared with electric, diesel, or hydrogen fuel-cell battery technology under development.

The appeal of Hyliion’s technology is that the company hasn’t re-created the semi-truck but instead has developed a way to clean up the fuel source. The ability to operate with zero emissions is a game-changer for all diesel truck brands.

According to Agility, the Hyliion Hypertruck is “delivering superior performance, emissions reductions, and cost-savings to the global trucking industry.”

This alternative fuel could be the way of the future

Hyliion’s Intelligent Electric Drive Axle System will reduce fuel consumption needs for tractor-trailers, making the transportation industry run more efficiently. The innovative system uses regenerative braking that captures power as the truck slows down and then reuses that stored energy to accelerate.

The Hypertruck ERX can charge batteries that power the electric motor via an onboard generator fueled by renewable natural gas (RNG). The biogas RNG is not a fossil fuel but a combination of food waste and other biodegradable products. It’s not considered as green as pure electric technology, but it still creates zero net emissions.

RNG has the greatest potential, environmentally speaking, for meeting the fuel-saving needs of the trucking industry. Matt McCall of Investor Place said, “This may be the most viable eco-friendly substitute for diesel-powered trucks.”

States such as California are aggressively moving toward renewable energies in an attempt to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. According to the California Air Resources Board, “The energy weighted carbon intensity value of natural gas vehicles under the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard registered negative net zero for the first time.”

What the future holds for the Hyliion Hypertruck ERX

The demand is high for this technology, and the rapidly growing company already has 1,500 pre-orders. Hyliion is joining forces with American Natural Gas to increase the national number of gas stations specifically for Hyliion customers.

Hyliion CEO and founder Thomas Healy emphasized that EV trucking is a practical solution that’s addressing “cost savings, lower emissions, and a fueling infrastructure that can support long-haul transportation,” FreightWaves reported.

The stock market is abuzz with a recent merger between Hyliion and Tortoise Acquisition Corp, and Hyliion (HYLN) stock prices have fluctuated heavily in the past few weeks. Investors are seriously looking at the company’s stock, creating competition for Tesla and other EV manufacturers, The Motley Fool reported.

According to Freight Waves, Hyliion has already delivered 13 trucks, 18 of which went to major fleet operators. The next seven trucks should be delivered by the end of 2020. Customer test versions will roll out in the second half of 2021, and regular production will begin in 2022.