Zeus Displays Terex All-Electric Bucket Truck on CARB-Ready Chassis at ACT Expo ’23

April 28, 2023

The display truck’s Zeus Z-19 Class 5 vocational chassis has a 19,500 gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) and has been awarded an Executive Order (EO) from the California Air Resources Board (CARB), qualifying it for the state’s Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP). 

Minneapolis, Minn. (April 28, 2023)Zeus Electric Chassis, Inc. showcased an all-electric bucket truck concept featuring a custom-engineered Reading Truck Classic II service body and a Terex Hi-Ranger LT40 aerial device upfitted to the Class 5 Zeus Z-19 Electric Smart Chassis. The 19,500 GVWR truck was displayed to the industry for the first time at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo 2023 in Zeus’ booth #5911. 

The Zeus Z-19 Class 5 electric vocational chassis has been awarded an Executive Order (EO) from the California Air Resources Board (CARB), qualifying it for the state’s Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP). 

The all-electric bucket truck represents the future of fleet transportation for medium-duty applications, and its Zeus Z-19 platform is currently the only vocational Class 5 chassis awarded a CARB EO and related HVIP funding eligibility. The announcement comes on the heels of the highly anticipated CARB Advanced Clean Fuels (ACF) ruling announcement made earlier today, and will set the stage for new orders of medium-duty electric vehicles in California and beyond. 

“Fleet transition to electrification is a complex and long-term process, but we can mitigate these impacts by demonstrating solutions that address additional power capacity,” said Jim Steffes, vice president of business development and strategy for Zeus. “High-powered tools draw greater current, often in short bursts, causing additional thermal loads and decreased capacity. Power, payload and performance are equally important to fleets and other industry stakeholders, and we’re working with Terex and Reading Truck to address all of these.” 

“As a leader bringing the first EV distribution 55-ft. class bucket truck to the industry, we support Zeus’ development of a super-duty application. When this truck is ready for the market, we expect to be right there with Zeus,” said Joe Caywood, director of marketing and product manager for Terex Utilities. “The Hi-Ranger LT40 aerial device is powered by a Terex HyPower SmartPTO system by Viatec, an ePTO solution that powers the outriggers and all aerial boom functions at 28.8 kwh and is independent of the vehicle power source.” 

J.B. Poindexter & Co., Inc. business units The Reading Truck Group and EAVX, its innovation hub, provided the service body for the all-electric truck on display. 

“Reading Truck has been a leading manufacturer and distributor designing work truck bodies for more than 65 years,” said EAVX COO and GM Mark Hope. “Alongside JBPCO’s newest innovation hub, EAVX, this partnership demonstrates our commitment toward next-generation EV solutions, while leveraging the decades of experience in the industry.” 

Zeus Electric Chassis is committed to developing innovative electric vehicle solutions that meet the needs of fleet operators across various industries. With the support of partners like Terex and Reading Truck Body, the company is well-positioned to bring its GEN 3 and GEN 4 all-electric trucks to market, and to help accelerate the transition to sustainable transportation. 

Alongside the bucket truck, a Class 5 Zeus Z-19 all-electric Marion Body Works box truck was also on display in the Zeus booth.

The Z-19 Electric Bucket Truck will also be on display at ACT

“The Zeus Z-19 Smart Chassis is a great step toward electrifying the vocational fleet industry. It is exciting to see key industry players collaborating to achieve this goal, and hopefully this is just one of many sustainable solutions that we will see in the future.” 

Jim Steffes – vice president of business development and strategy for Zeus.

About Zeus Electric Chassis 
Headquartered in White Bear Lake, Minn., Zeus is a manufacturer of class 4-6 electric work trucks. Its mission is to design and manufacture high-quality, durable, full-electric work trucks that address environmental and industry needs. Zeus is focused on meeting the specific needs of different industries and businesses and is well networked within the eMobility ecosystem, partnering with market-leading technology suppliers, work truck OEMs, end-user fleets, and nonprofit industry leaders with the mission of accelerating EV adoption nationwide. Learn more at http://www.zeuselectricchassis.com

About Terex 
Terex Corporation is a global manufacturer of materials processing machinery and aerial work platforms. We design, build and support products used in construction, maintenance, manufacturing, energy, recycling, minerals and materials management applications. Certain Terex products and solutions enable customers to reduce their impact on the environment including electric and hybrid offerings that deliver quiet and emission-free performance, products that support renewable energy, and products that aid in the recovery of useful materials from various types of waste. Our products are manufactured in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia and sold worldwide. We engage with customers through all stages of the product life cycle, from initial specification and financing to parts and service support. More information about Terex is available on its website: www.Terex.com

About Terex Utilities: 
Terex Utilities is a leading global manufacturer of aerial devices and digger derricks for the electric utility industry and offers service and parts support across the North America. Terex Utilities is a business group within the Terex Aerial Work Platforms Business Segment of Terex Corporation. Learn more at www.terex.com/utilities

About J.B. Poindexter & Co., Inc. 
J.B. Poindexter & Co., Inc., is a business enterprise that provides best-in-class commercial automotive and manufacturing goods and services. The company applies innovative operational and financial disciplines to the manufacturing of truck and van bodies, pickup truck covers and accessories, industrial vehicle storage and shelving, funeral coaches, limousines, specialty industrial parts and expandable foam packaging. The industry-leading business units include Morgan Truck Body, Morgan Olson, Reading Truck Group, LEER, EFP, FederalEagle, MIC Group, Masterack and EAVX. For more information, visit JBPoindexter.com

  • Zeus Power Platform and Electric Smart Chassis are trademarks of Zeus Electric Chassis, Inc. 
  • Terex is a registered trademark of Terex Corporation. 
  • Hi-Ranger and HyPower are trademarks of Terex Corporation. 

Contact Information: 

Zeus Electric Chassis: 
Jim Steffes, VP of Business Development and Strategy 
Office: 844-938-7462, Email: [email protected] 

Terex: 
Becki Dale, Marketing Communications  
Phone: 605-882-5525, Email: [email protected] 

J.B. Poindexter & Co., Inc.: 
Matt Eul, Director of Marketing  
Phone: 641-629-0921, Email: [email protected]