Xos has had trucks on the road since 2018, but the cycle of invention, testing, and deployment never stops; our commitment to reliability means we’re continuously identifying and incorporating product improvements. To that end, we understand the next generation of commercial trucks needs to be as strong or stronger than anything else on the road — whether that’s pavement, cobblestones, or dirt roads. Today, we’re pleased to share the latest update in durability testing that will help Xos continue to provide superior commercial electric vehicles.
Our Class 6 step van recently went through a brutal battery of tests at a durability track in northern Indiana. Durability testing provides us with valuable data about vehicle integrity, lifespan expectations, and the overall capabilities of our trucks.
Compared to passenger vehicles, commercial trucks require extreme amounts of durability and stamina because they operate in high-stress conditions on a day-to-day basis. That’s why every Xos truck is designed, developed, and tested from the ground up to meet commercial use cases.
Our step van successfully completed durability testing, expertly navigating thousands of miles of harsh terrains. We’re proud of these results — they act as another vote of confidence in our vehicles’ ability to perform to the exceptionally high standards required in the commercial space.
During testing, professional drivers drove the fully electric Xos step van on surfaces designed to test and challenge its structural integrity. The testing included eight different terrains, from speed bumps to cobblestones and more.
The durability test roads included surfaces such as:
- Chatter bumps
- Impact bumps
- Light cobblestones
- Heavy cobblestones
- Resonance and undulating roads
- Sine wave roads
- Gravel roads
- Cross-country roads
The surfaces on these roads are rougher, the bumps harder, and the imperfections more frequent when compared to public roads, which cause a vehicle to accumulate accelerated mileage. As a result, a short period of time spent on the durability testing grounds can represent the total mileage a vehicle might get in its usable lifespan.
The terrains replicate real-world conditions and potential impact forces like curb strikes, potholes, and pavement cracks. Commercial trucks don’t have the luxury of always driving on perfectly maintained and manicured roads, so they must stand up to the task of performing under all conditions.
The step van averaged speeds between 18 and 25 miles per hour, with specific tests occurring at higher speeds. Testing maneuvers are varied and rigorous, including everything from figure eights to braking, skidding, and accelerations.
The step van drove 4,000 miles during the durability test, simulating 200,000 real-world miles. Of those miles driven, half were driven under load.
The vehicle’s responses to the proving grounds were studied to determine how different stress inputs impact its service life. The data collected provides invaluable information critical to design validation and ongoing maintenance needs. Testing data also helps ensure that our vehicles will continue to perform at the highest standards for its entire lifespan, even under the roughest conditions.
When we talk about commercial vehicles, their durability has to match up with real-world-use cases. For example, can a parcel delivery truck perform when fully loaded with packages? Can an armored vehicle perform while driving over potholes?
At Xos, each unique build or production run goes through rigorous durability testing to give us the best possible understanding of our vehicles and their capabilities. We then use that data to iterate on existing designs.
Xos takes pride in producing trucks that can withstand all types of conditions and perform under high-payload capacities. While we design emission-free and quiet vehicles, we’re also committed to building trucks that can take on the rigors of everyday work conditions in the real world.
From potholes to speed bumps, our trucks must successfully navigate and perform to meet the needs of our customers. Passing the durability testing is a testament to the engineering and design elements that result in a superior electric commercial vehicle.