TruckStop à Las Vegas : immersion au cœur du transport américain

Today, the ACT Expo 2026 has established itself as the largest North American event dedicated to decarbonized transport and new technologies applied to commercial vehicles.

Last year, our Editor-in-Chief Fabien Calvet produced a full on-site report with several real-world tests of electric and hydrogen trucks, allowing us to concretely assess the maturity level of the various solutions presented by American and international manufacturers.

For this 2026 edition, it was particularly important to return to the field in order to observe the real evolution of the American market in what has become a much more complicated context. Because behind the still ambitious speeches surrounding electrification, the road transport industry is currently going through a period of major turbulence.

The American truck market is in clear decline, weakened by a long-term slowdown in freight demand, exploding operating costs, and the direct consequences of the economic and trade policies of the Trump administration. Rising tariffs, regulatory instability, and the questioning of several federal support programs have significantly cooled investment from many fleets.

In the aisles of ACT Expo, this new reality was everywhere. Operators are now looking for immediately profitable solutions capable of responding to very concrete economic constraints. The era of announcements and promises is over. What matters now is profitability, real-world range, and total cost of ownership.

Despite this tense environment, innovation continues to move forward at high speed. Next-generation diesel, batteries, hydrogen, artificial intelligence, and autonomous driving now coexist in an American market undergoing a major transition and reorganization.

Demand for electric trucks in the United States is becoming more selective as fleets reassess costs, infrastructure, and political support, according to a new analysis presented at ACT Expo 2026 in Las Vegas.

The latest State of Sustainable Fleets report suggests that while battery-electric vehicles continue gaining traction in certain applications — particularly medium-duty and depot-based operations — broader adoption in heavy-duty transport remains slowed by the removal of federal incentives, high vehicle costs, and persistent infrastructure challenges.

Rather than betting on a single technology, fleets are increasingly spreading investments across diesel, renewable fuels, gas, and electric vehicles in order to reduce risks and maintain operational flexibility.

This evolution comes as the sector enters a third consecutive year of weak freight demand, combined with price increases reaching up to $35,000 per new truck and major shifts within the American political landscape.

Despite these pressures, the report highlights continued progress in several key areas. More than $5 billion in local, regional, and utility funding remains available annually through 2028, while technologies such as artificial intelligence and autonomous transport are beginning to move from pilot projects to commercial operations.

For many operators, the focus is now clearly on total cost of ownership and proven performance rather than long-term promises.

A Tesla Cybertruck in the colors of the Las Vegas Police Department was patrolling the ACT Expo site as part of a fleet of ten vehicles operated by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Donated rather than purchased, these pickups form the largest police Cybertruck fleet in the United States and are equipped with light bars, sirens, and tactical equipment.

Their presence in active service, rather than as a static display, highlights how quickly this controversial electric pickup has transitioned into real frontline operational use.

Harbinger Motors used ACT Expo to offer operators their first real-world driving experience of the HC Series cab launched earlier this year.

This low-cab-forward medium-duty truck is available either as a full battery-electric model or as a hybrid with a range extender. The electric version offers between 140 and 210 miles of range depending on battery configuration, while the hybrid can reach around 500 miles thanks to an onboard generator.

Built on a modular 800V platform with scalable batteries, the HC Series clearly targets urban and regional applications, with a strong focus on maneuverability, payload capacity, and body integration flexibility.

Hendrickson unveiled its new ELECTRAAX electric drive axle for medium-duty trucks, marking its entry into the powered axle segment.

Developed with Driventic, this integrated unit combines motor, inverter, gearbox, and axle into a single package, with claimed efficiency reaching up to 94%.

This lightweight and modular design targets vehicles between 12 and 26 tonnes GVW, aiming to reduce weight, improve range, and lower energy consumption.

Hendrickson states that the system can be adapted to different chassis layouts and duty cycles, while regenerative braking and the single-speed gearbox are designed to improve efficiency and long-term reliability while helping manufacturers comply with increasingly strict emissions and weight regulations.

Tesla showcased two Semis on the ACT Expo test track, although, as at IAA Transportation 2024, only passenger rides were offered.

Now in full production at its Nevada Gigafactory, this long-delayed Class 8 electric tractor finally appears to be moving beyond the prototype phase nearly nine years after its initial unveiling in 2017.

With up to 500 miles of range and a tri-motor drivetrain producing more than 1,000 hp, the Semi is gradually moving closer to large-scale deployment.

Volvo Group took advantage of ACT Expo in Las Vegas to unveil a new generation of EPA 2027-compliant diesel engines for its Volvo Trucks North America and Mack Trucks brands.

Although marketed separately as the Volvo D13 and Mack MP13, both engines share the same Volvo Group architecture and deliver identical performance with up to 540 hp and 2,650 Nm of torque.

The engines were designed to comply with the new ultra-strict EPA limit of 35 mg of NOx while simultaneously improving fuel efficiency and overall performance.

Volvo claims the new D13 reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by more than 80% compared to current limits, while Mack announces fuel economy improvements of up to 3% compared with the previous MP13.

Engine braking has also been significantly improved, reaching up to 630 hp of braking power.

The engines receive revised combustion systems, more efficient turbochargers, and predictive software designed to improve drivability and reduce fuel consumption.

Mack specifies that maximum torque is now available from just 900 rpm in order to support downspeeding strategies and reduce operating costs.

Both engines are compatible with renewable diesel, while the Mack engine can also run on biodiesel blends up to B20.

This launch is particularly notable because it demonstrates how heavily manufacturers continue investing in diesel technology even as the industry accelerates toward battery-electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles.

“This engine is the most fuel-efficient and reliable we have ever produced,” said Peter Voorhoeve.

Jonathan Randall added that the new MP13 was designed to meet the toughest emissions standards “without forcing customers to sacrifice power or efficiency.”

Horizon Motor presented its HM8 BEVSM at ACT Expo, a 6x4 electric highway tractor designed for heavy regional operations.

Visually similar to the Tesla Semi and Windrose, it adopts a modern aerodynamic cab while maintaining a conventional driving position instead of a center seat. The truck is assembled in Athens, Ohio.

Toyota Motor North America has signed an agreement with Hyroad Energy to deploy 40 hydrogen fuel cell Class 8 trucks in Southern California, as efforts intensify to build a real hydrogen ecosystem for road transport.

Under the agreement, Hyroad will provide the vehicles, maintenance, software, and operational support, while Toyota will supply hydrogen through refueling infrastructure currently under development in Ontario, California.

The objective is to combine vehicles, fuel, and services into a single commercial model genuinely usable by transport operators.

This initiative follows Hyroad’s acquisition of assets from Nikola Corporation after its bankruptcy, including more than 100 fuel cell trucks, spare parts, and software, providing a solid foundation for accelerating operations.

Fuel cell trucks offer refueling times comparable to diesel and ranges of up to 500 miles, but high costs and lack of infrastructure have so far limited the sector.

By combining fuel supply, vehicles, and support within a single offering, Toyota and Hyroad aim to remove these barriers and demonstrate that hydrogen can work at scale in real-world logistics.

Hino Trucks unveiled its new Le Series medium-duty electric truck at ACT Expo 2026, marking another step in the brand’s zero-tailpipe-emissions strategy.

The Le Series will be available in two versions: the 11.8-tonne GVW L6e and the 15-tonne L7e, primarily targeting urban and regional applications where electrification makes the most sense.

Powered by a 269 kWh battery supplied by Hexagon Purus using Panasonic cells, the truck supports DC fast charging up to 120 kW, allowing charging from 0 to 80% in just under two hours.

An integrated electric axle delivers up to 348 hp, paired with a two-speed transmission designed to optimize both performance and efficiency.

Production is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2026.

FlowBelow Aero launched a new version of its fuel-saving aerodynamic wheel covers featuring “Easy Air Access,” designed to simplify tire pressure checks for commercial vehicle fleets.

The system relocates the inner and outer tire valves to the center of the wheel cover, allowing drivers to check and refill tires without kneeling or removing the covers.

Developed with Pressure Systems International, it also enables optional integration of a tire pressure monitoring system.

FlowBelow claims the new design improves safety and encourages better maintenance, helping fleets maximize fuel savings.

The company states that its wheel covers can reduce fuel consumption by 1.74%, equivalent to approximately 2.16 gallons saved every 1,000 miles.

Text and photos: Will Shiers