Electric Vehicles are considered to future of the automotive industry and this is why more and more companies are shifting their focus to EVs. Toyota affiliate Hino Motors is the latest company to join the race. For this initiative, Hino has joined hands with Israeli electric vehicle startup REE Automotive. The startup is based in Tel Aviv and the two companies will jointly develop electric buses, trucks, and commercial vehicles. The Israeli startup has a new approach towards developing electric vehicles. The EVs built by it will have technology packs built into the wheels of the vehicle. This gives cabins of vehicles unique layouts.
The electric vehicle market has become highly competitive in the recent past. This is why unique layouts and special capabilities could be critical for attracting customers. There are now several options in front of customers and making a place between them is not going to be a cakewalk for REE. Almost every auto manufacturer is investing in building a range of commercial vehicles. Ford, General Motors, Volkswagen are some of the key players in the field. REE and Hino are working at a fast pace and they are expecting their first prototype to be ready by next year. But it is yet not known when these vehicles will be commercially available for the public.
Hino CEO Yoshio Shimo said that alliance with REE will go long way. “The Israeli startup is a group of visionary people. I am confident that we will together take up the challenge of generating new value in commercial mobility,” Shimo said. REE believes that it will change the structure of the electric vehicle industry by offering a drive-by-wire system. The technology replaces traditional mechanical controls with electronic systems. The company is focusing on fixing the technology between the wheel and the chassis. It believes that this will enables vehicles to have a completely flat floor. This is turn is expected to give vehicles greater design flexibility and can meet unique specifications.
