Greg Weber: New Projects at EAVX and Industry Developments

Greg Weber joined us ahead of MOVE America to talk about the importance of electrifying fleets and future developments happening at EAVX.

EAVX optimises the design and manufacture of next-generation commercial vehicles by collaborating with chassis partners, technology suppliers and leveraging the formidable resources of JB Poindexter & Co.

Greg is the VP of engineering and technology at EAVX. He is an automotive development and production veteran with broad experience in ADAS, software, electronics systems, mechanical design, chassis and electrification. Greg has innovated and directed projects in NAFTA, LATAM, EMEA, APAC regions from concept through implementation, delivering cost effective, high-performance and technically compliant products on-time and budget.

 

Q: Tell us a little bit about EAVX and what you do.

A: EAVX is the innovation hub for JB Poindexter, one of the largest commercial bodybuilders in North America. So EAVX’s role is to work with technology partners, electrification partners, and autonomous vehicle partners to bring new technologies to our customers. My role within EAVX is vice president of engineering and technology.

 

Q: We always talk about electrifying cars and micro mobility, but sometimes you do feel like fleets are lost in the discussion. How important is it to electrify fleets?

A: Electrifying fleets are tremendously important because of their contribution to greenhouse gases in the environment and to intercity pollution. A lot of the fleets are diesel vehicles running in underserved communities. Reducing emissions in those environments and reducing greenhouse gases is critically important. Not to mention that a lot of the fleets are perfect for electrification. They’re centrally refueled back at night, so you have a long time to recharge them, so it significantly reduces the infrastructure costs. Additionally, it gives you a really good method of recharging vehicles.

 

Q: Tell us about the VX control system, which is what you describe as the backbone behind next generation integration and functionality. What does this do and how does it benefit the vehicle?

A: VX Control is the technological backbone for the vehicle. It allows us to do a lot of things for our customers. All our customers are struggling to hire drivers and workers. So, what we’re trying to do is make their jobs more driver friendly and efficient by automating the opening of doors, unlocking cabinets, lighting, and then presenting the driver with the information they need, when they need it.

An example is when you’re pulling up to a right turn and you’ve got your right turn signal on, in the display we will turn on the right rear camera and the rear camera so that the driver gets the information they need at that instant. It’ll be with a single display, not multiple displays like there are today, so it significantly reduces driver distraction. The whole purpose behind VX Control is to improve the efficiency and safety of the driver.

 

Q: What new projects and developments has EAVX got going on at the moment?

A: Some of the new things we’re working on are to help the driver find the package in the back of the vehicle. Several customers have said that a significant issue with their drivers is being able to find a package.I won’t go into how we’re planning on doing it, but the technologies we’re working on will be able to find a package and significantly reduce those inefficiencies to the driver.

Not to mention automating drawers in our outside cabinets in both our Morgan and Reading brands, so that the driver isn’t searching for a key. It makes it much more efficient and makes sure that you’re tracking tools for the driver so that they don’t leave them behindon job sites and those types of things. It’s really customer and driver specific technologies to help them in the future.

 

Q: It’s great to see that you are developing technologies based on feedback. Obviously, these developments were specific to EAVX but what do you think will be the next big step for the mobility industry in the next 12-18 months?

A: For me one of the new things, and it may be slightly beyond the next 12 to 18 months, is parcel delivery. Within large cities like New York and Los Angeles, parcel delivery is getting more and more difficult to operate class five and six trucks. What we’re working on is how you introduce new methods for delivering packages in dense urban environments while reducing emissions at the same time. It’s a problem we’re working on and we’re coming up with some very innovative solutions for that. But we will have to leave that for a future interview.

 

Q: Definitely! We will come back to you in a year. This is your first time at MOVE America, which is very exciting, what are you excited for and what can we expect to hear from you there?

A: I’m really excited to listen to all the different speeches and to get different perspectives. It significantly helps you grow when you go into these types of conferences. You have to go in with an open mind and listen to what your competitors and the technology providers and technical partners are all discussing over there. After hour discussions are critically important in addition to the conferences and the meetings that go on during the conference.