Chinese carmaker Geely today introduced the electric tractor Homtruck, which is to compete with the Semi car of the American carmaker Tesla. Farizon Auto’s commercial vehicle division plans to launch the tractor in 2024 and also targets international markets, Mike Fan, Mike Fan, head of division, said in an interview.
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“This product is designed and developed with the global market in mind,” said Fan. According to him, the company will focus on Europe, South Korea, Japan and North America with the new car.
Many electric cars have already announced their own electric trucks, from the German Daimler to the Chinese BYD, which is supported by the investor Warren Buffet. Tesla introduced the Semi in 2017, later postponing its series production to 2023.
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Geely will supply the car with various drives, for example as a hybrid car with methanol fuel cells, or with a purely electric drive. Methanol-powered batteries are a technology that Geely has been investing in for several years, and some of its models currently have this power option. Farizon said the Homtruck’s batteries would also be replaced.
The interior includes a shower and toilet, one bed, a fridge, a kitchenette and a small washing machine.
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Geely has announced that the vehicle will be able to use some functions of partially autonomous steering. For longer journeys, for example, trucks will be able to communicate with each other to maintain a safe speed and distance. The carmaker plans to introduce autonomous management in three phases, Fan said. Geely wants to achieve complete control automation in 2030.
Automakers are facing rising commodity prices and a global shortage of semiconductors. They are also watching the price of lithium, which has climbed to record levels this year. A Benchmark Mineral Intelligence report in late October states that battery manufacturers are beginning to pass on price increases to automakers, “which could have a major impact on electric cars coming to market between 2022 and 2024”.
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Fan said rising raw material prices are affecting the company’s production volume and margins. He described rising raw material prices as a temporary problem that will gradually ease. The shortage of semiconductors is also reflected in the production volume. Geely is trying to find alternative solutions when it comes to microchips, and supply issues are gradually being addressed, Fan concluded.
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