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News of the week
Traton, Jacksonville, Hyster, Spirii, ZE Ports, eTrucker
Traton consolidates R&D resources for modular eMobility systems, Jacksonville launches the first autonomous public transit shuttle in the US, Hyster unveils an electric forklift for container handling, and Spirii & ZE Ports roll out a pay-per-use model for heavy-duty electric commercial vehicles — here are the top headlines from Week 28 of 2025.
Traton consolidates R&D resources for modular eMobility systems, Jacksonville launches the first autonomous public transit shuttle in the US, Hyster unveils an electric forklift for container handling, and Spirii & ZE Ports roll out a pay-per-use model for heavy-duty electric commercial vehicles — here are the top headlines from Week 28 of 2025.
As of July 1, 2025, Traton has restructured its research and development efforts by bringing together around 9,000 engineers from the R&D departments of Scania, MAN, International, and Volkswagen Truck & Bus into a new unit called Group R&D. Another 3,000 engineers will remain within their respective brands to continue developing brand-specific features — ensuring, for example, that a MAN truck maintains its unique identity compared to a sibling Scania model.
Led by Traton’s Head of R&D, Niklas Klingenberg, the new unit is expected to accelerate the implementation of the Traton Modular System (TMS), which enables brands to share components like drivetrains, battery systems, and charging hardware across the group. The goal is to cut development times, reduce costs, and eliminate redundant work.
Jacksonville, Florida, has launched the first fully autonomous public transit shuttle in the United States. On June 30, 2025, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) began operating NAVI, a service featuring 14 electric Ford e-Transit minibuses equipped with Oxa driver-assist technology. While the vehicles are driverless, safety attendants are on board.
The 3.5-mile route includes 12 stops along the Bay Street Innovation Corridor and runs weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Rides will be free of charge through September 30, 2025. The project is part of the long-term Ultimate Urban Circulator (U²C) program, which aims to establish a 10-mile autonomous transit network.
US-based Hyster has expanded its product line with a fully electric forklift designed for handling empty shipping containers in ports and terminals. The new J6–7XD–EC3/4 series is capable of lifting 6 to 7 metric tons and stacking containers up to four high.
At the core is a 350V lithium-ion battery system, compatible with CCS fast charging. The model builds on Hyster’s electric forklift portfolio (previously capped at 3.5 tons) and is now specifically targeted at heavy-duty applications in port logistics and intermodal terminals.
Danish platform Spirii and Spanish company ZE Ports have introduced a turnkey pay-per-use model designed to simplify the electrification of commercial vehicle fleets. Trucks, buses, charging infrastructure, maintenance, insurance, and renewable electricity are bundled into a fixed per-kilometer rate — approximately €0.90/km for trucks and €1.27/km for buses. The price includes full service and carbon credits.
For example, a fleet of 35 electric trucks operating 11 hours daily could, according to the providers, achieve a total cost of ownership benefit of around €336,000 per vehicle — or €11.7 million overall — compared to conventional upfront investment models. Under the partnership, ZE Ports handles vehicle procurement and charging infrastructure, while Spirii takes care of installation, monitoring, and energy management.