New partnership will "revolutionise" designs of lightweight electric trucks

A partnership between tech firm REE Automotive and hydraulics manufacturer KYB promises to revolutionise electric vehicle designs of vehicles up to 8-tonnnes GVW.

REE co-founder Daniel Barel said KYB, a producer of shock absorbers, would play a “crucial role” in the development of its next generation electric vehicle, which is based on a completely flat, scalable and modular platform.

The KYB-REE partnership marks the first time KYB has formally collaborated on EV platforms with a technology company.

Kazunori Masumoto, KYB general manager of engineering, said: “KYB has vast experience in developing and manufacturing advanced suspension systems and we are excited to partner with REE Automotive and share its revolutionary EV vision by engineering a suspension subsystem that supports the needs of tomorrow’s mobility ecosystem.”

REE said its designs allow modular applications for any vehicle type, from last mile delivery to heavy duty shipping.

A REE spokesman added that its technology supported a range of GVW, from one-tonne to eight-tonnes.