.png)
In late 2023, the E-Truck Challenge was started as a Capstone project partnered with PACCAR. The goal would be to retrofit a Class 7 Peterbilt Truck into all electric within four years. Seeing this as an opportunity to provide students hands-on experience with real parts and industry software and experts, foundling member John Armstrong expanded the involvement of the challenge towards a Registered Student Organization (RSO) at the University of Washington.
The first year focuses on creating digital models of the existing truck's systems, including its electrical and controls architecture, along with a computer-aided design (CAD) model for the body of the truck. Students also conduct market research on other battery-electric vehicle (BEV) trucks to aid in component selection and performance criteria development that together will make up a retrofitting package.
Models of the existing truck with new BEV features will then be consolidated and undergo verification through simulation tools. Then, selected components for the truck conversion will be purchased and bench tested before students begin integrating them into the existing truck.
Once component integration is complete, students will conduct unit testing and systems testing. They will verify that new BEV systems integrate seamlessly with the original, unaltered truck systems and that everything functions as it should. At the end of Year 3, vehicle validation processes will assess whether or not the truck meets all Department of Transportation (DOT) standards and regulations.
The final year of the E-Truck Challenge conducts a series of stress tests on the electric Peterbilt 337. By stress testing the truck in a multitude of unfavorable conditions, such as hot and cold weather, extreme loading, and long ranges, students can validate that the truck has hit all Success Criteria defined during Year 1. The truck will then be driven up to the PACCAR Technical Center (PTC) in Mount Vernon, WA, marking the culmination of E-Truck's four years of hard work.
