Balqon Corp., a developer of electric drive systems, is debuting its new on-road, Class 8 electric tractor for short-haul drayage and inner-city applications.

Model MX30 features Balqon's proprietary drive system and a six-speed automatic transmission assembled on a Freightliner truck chassis. It can travel up to 150 miles under unloaded conditions on a single charge, which the vehicle's 600 V lithium batteries achieve in less than three hours.

Balqon adds that the MX30 can travel at speeds up to 70 mph and tow loads of over 30 tons. The vehicle also features idle-shutoff technologies and Balqon's proprietary battery management system and charging system.

"High fuel costs favor higher-efficiency electric vehicle solutions in high-idling, short-haul applications at locations such as ports, airports and urban centers," says Balwinder Samra, CEO of Balqon. "We believe that the MX30 is an ideal solution for use at ports where air pollution is severe and distances traveled between marine terminals and local rail yards are less than five miles per trip."