The Ree P7-C may look like a boring delivery truck, but it’s actually the world’s first fully ‘everything-by-wire’ vehicle, and it has just received approval for use on American roads. With steering, braking, and driving all handled by signals, the truck severs all traditional mechanical linkages between the driver and powertrain, steering, and brakes. At the core of the system lies the REEcorner tech, which consolidates essential vehicle components (steering, braking, suspension, powertrain, and control) into a single compact module positioned between the chassis and each wheel. Each of the four independent modules, one at each corner, is controlled by its own electronic control unit (ECU), while a central REEcenter ECU manages all corner-level functions.
Ree says that its everything-by-wire
technology enables commercial vehicles to attain superior maneuverability,
expanded interior space, enhanced ergonomics facilitated by the low step-in
height of the driver cabin, improved serviceability, streamlined maintenance,
and a modular design. With multiple hardware and software redundancies, Ree
claims that the truck is safe, despite its lack of physical connections to the
controls.
The automaker also believes that the
system’s over-the-air update capability will future-proof the truck, and may
even improve its residual value. Currently, they are providing demonstrator
versions of the P7-C to dealers so that they can show it off to potential
customers, and convince them of the technology’s advantages.
What might be more appealing to potential
customers than the everything-by-wire technology are the tax advantages they
stand to gain by purchasing the new electric vehicle. Ree says that the P7-C is
eligible for up to US$ 40,000 in credits per vehicle via the Commercial Clean
Vehicle Tax Credit. Combined with state credits, the company believes that some
customers could be approved for up to US$ 100,000 in incentives per vehicle,
depending on their location.
