Windrose arrived at the ACT Expo in Anaheim this week on a high, with not one but several of its 400-mile sleeper cab electric semis, news that its first customer trucks had been deployed in the US, and a $300 million funding goal. But what got the press really excited? A 1:18 scale model of the R700. Windrose CEO Wen Han has reportedly raised his funding goal to $300 million, according to a Reuters report, as it works to build out new assembly plants in both Belgium and the US, in a bid to sidestep anti-Chinese patents on its 700 kWH R700 electric semi.
I got a chance to sit with Wen (he asked me not to call him Mr. Han), and found him to be somewhat different than I expected. For starters, he tracks as American – not the traditional Chinese businessman I expected. He studied at Stanford, worked in Connecticut, speaks convincingly fluent Spanish, and loves basketball enough to have bought the local Antwerp Giants basketball team at Windrose’ new corporate hometown. And, sure, there’s some of the typical finance- and tech-bro bravado and weirdness there, but Wen is young enough and charming enough that it comes across as youthful exuberance.
Whatever you think of Wen or his trucks, though, one thing is unquestionably true: the man understands that journalists love trade show swag, and he showed up with a stout, 1:18 scale die-cast version of the Windrose R700.
Awesomesauce
That’s not three pictures of one model semi – that’s three pictures of three model semi trucks in the ACT Expo press room. Clean Trucking senior editor Jay Traugott (above, left) got his first, and sent the assembled media into a mild frenzy. Everyone had to touch the truck, feel its mass, and explore the “anatomically correct” depiction of the Windrose’ electric axles, batteries, and center seating position. The model’s sliding door even opens, giving you a detailed look into the Windrose’ cabin and, if you look “up,” through the truck’s skylight.
It’s my favorite.
There were real ones, too
Three years ago, Wen was walking the halls of ACT Expo looking for dealers, investors, partners – anyone who would pay attention to his 3D-printed model semi truck that looked an awful lot like the Tesla semi announced in 2017. Last year, he brought an early production model to the ride and drive – or so I thought.
“That was a real, working truck,” Wen explained (I’m paraphrasing a bit here). “It was dirty and worn out because we’d been beating on it.”
This year? Wen had a fresh Windrose R700 at the ride and drive, and a clean, shiny, and new electric semi in the ACT Expo’s ever-expanding exhibition space – and it looked great. The fit and finish, the paint, the interior materials – all of it looked at least as good as what you’d expect from something like an International.
And these, presumably, were not the same trucks Joyride, an early Windrose customer, was wheeling around for photos a few days ahead of the show.
Joyride isn’t alone. Windrose’ board includes Vin McLoughlin, co-founder of J.B. Hunt’s dedicated services business, and Curt Ferguson, former head of Coca-Cola China.
My friend Paul Gioupis, CEO of Zeem Solutions and great admirer of the Tesla Semi’s design and promised efficiency, seems to be a Windrose convert as well. “Have you been in one, yet?” he asked, jealously eyeing the scale model of the R700 I was cradling like a baby as Wen and I walked and talked. “It’s awesome.”
The Windrose Technology R700 sleeper cab electric semi truck packs a 700 kWh battery, megawatt charging capabilities developed with Tier 1 heavyweight Borg-Warner, and a 400-mile driving range when fully loaded to to its 82,000 lb. combined capacity. Prices start at $250,000 – which, when you factor in incentives like ComEd’s $50,000 Class 8 commercial EV rebate and other state and federal EV incentives, puts it on up-front cost parity with something like an International LT625 sleeper.
With that in mind, it’s no surprise that Paul wasn’t the only big fleet buyer with a big smile and firm handshake for Wen, either. Expect big things.
Original content from Electrek.
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Author: Jo Borrás
Source: Electrek
