CAA-QUÉBEC TO TAKE DELIVERY OF THE FIRST ALL-ELECTRIC TOW TRUCK IN NORTH AMERICA
Some 80 years after introducing horse-drawn towing services, the roadside assistance organization Quebecers trust most will soon roll out the first 100 % electric tow truck made in Québec. The move signals CAA-Québec’s commitment to contribute to the development of energy-efficient and cleaner solutions.
With the Lion Electric Company’s Lion5 truck and the platform developed by XpaK Industries, CAA-Québec is marking an important milestone in its history and looking to the future thanks to technological progress. The truck is one more tool among CAA-Québec’s innovations to help reduce the towing industry’s environmental footprint. The organization is also firmly committed to promoting electromobility among its members and the general public, through the sale of charging stations, recommendations for certified installers, consulting services, EV Skills certification offered at Approved Auto Repair Service Locations, road tests for attendees at the Montréal and Québec City auto shows, numerous reviews of electric cars, and more.
A Powerful Cutting-Edge Truck
The towing truck built by Lion offers a capacity of 210 kWh for a range of up to 310 km, and generates power of 315 hp. It is powered by 800-volt battery packs manufactured by Lion Electric and can potentially eliminate 75 to 100 metric tons of greenhouse gas per year, in addition to reducing energy costs by about 80 % and maintenance costs by about 60 % compared to a gasoline or diesel vehicle of the same type.
In the coming months, this electric tow truck will be tested and put through its paces in a multitude of towing situations and weather conditions. CAA-Québec’s roadside assistance service will be a pioneer in electric towing solutions in North America and will be able to share its experience with its partners in Québec as well as elsewhere in Canada (CAA) and in the United States (AAA).
The new vehicle is an addition to CAA-Québec’s fleet of electric roadside assistance vehicles, which already includes the Hyundai IONIQ (since 2018) and Ford’s F-150 hybrid and F-150 Lightning (since 2020 and 2022, respectively).
A 100 % Electric Platform
Compared to a traditional hydraulic platform, the towing platform designed by XpaK Industries is 25 % to 30 % lighter thanks to the materials it is made of, including composite, aluminum and high-strength steel. The 100 % electric design allows for better management of energy peaks in addition to eliminating the risk of hydraulic fluid leakage.
PICTURE CREDIT: CAA-Québec
