| Edison Motors | |
| Type: | Limited |
| Founders: | Chace Barber Eric Little |
| Location: | Merritt, British Columbia, Canada |
| Industry: | Truck manufacturing |
| Num Employees: | 13 |
Edison Motors is a Canadian electric truck manufacturing startup based in British Columbia, specializing in diesel-electric plug-in hybrid technology for semi-truck prime-mover tractor units, full-size solid axle drive trucks, and heavy solid-axle pickups; combining a generator with electric drive motors and batteries. Founded in October of 2021 by Eric Little and Chace Barber and is a spin-off of SEI Logistics, a solar energy innovations company.[1]
Founded with the idea to use train locomotive diesel-electric technology on forestry logging trucks, where climbing mountains empty and coming down fully loaded would make a net-zero energy use, with downhill regen recharging the battery power used to climb, and electric torque would obviate needing a giant diesel engine, diesel generators and large truck diesel tanks would make range anxiety a non-issue.[2]
A 1962 Kenworth LW 924 needle-nose truck unit. Converted to diesel-electric using a 3306 Caterpillar diesel generator, becoming the prototype blue truck called Carl. This became the first semi-truck in the world to run on a diesel-electric powertrain, similar to that found on locomotive train engines. Finished in September 2022, it is the initial proof-of-concept engineering prototype.
A custom-built, from the frame-on-up concept production working prototype, Topsy, named after the elephant. Demonstrates the anticipated truck design, with prototype production drive train, and all up off-the-shelf components, with prototype frame rails. Finished September 2023.[3]
There are four pickup truck conversion prototypes currently in development; an International, Dodge, Ford and Toyota.[4]
Edison has partnered with Deboss Garage out of Canfield, ON, convert a stock second generation 2 wheel drive 1995 Dodge Ram 2500 to a 4-wheel drive with an Edison diesel-electric drivetrain. Additionally Deboss is converting a Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series, both are receiving a 2.8L Cummins diesel generator. [5] Edison has partnered with Keabray Holdings Ltd. out of Drayton Valley, AB to convert a 2007 Ford F450 service truck, while Edison itself is converting a 1945 International K5.
Production began in 2024 with orders from clients for an oil fields winch tractor truck and a highway snow plow. The plow is projected to provide a 30% fuel efficiency and have a reduction of 20 tons.[6]