FPT Industrial Joins Battery Race

FPT Industrial has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with US-based battery specialist Microvast, for an industrial and commercial cooperation to enable FPT Industrial to design and assemble battery packs in its Turin facility, Italy.

FPT Industrial is also expected to design and engineer a new e-platform to develop and industrialize complete electrified powertrain systems, that will be sized and customized for specific missions, both on- and off-road.

“FPT Industrial is a recognized leader in alternative propulsion systems, and this agreement further preparers us for the challenges facing our industry,” said Hubertus Mühlhäuser, CEO of CNH Industrial, FPT Industrial’s parent company.

FPT Industrial has championed already since some time the concept of a multi-power approach for future powertrains. The company is at the forefront in natural gas propulsion systems, especially for on-road applications and introduced at the Bauma show 2019 its Cursor X Power Source concept – a power unit that would adapt to provide the most suitable solution for the customer’s business and mission, whether based on natural gas internal combustion, hydrogen fuel cell electric generation, or battery-stored energy.

The definitive agreement with Microvast is expected by the first quarter 2020.

Microvast is based in Houston, TX, and has a subsidiary in Germany for the European, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) market. The company designs, develops and manufactures ultra-fast charging, long life traction battery systems.