The Shyft Group revealed its new all-electric Class 5 Crew Cab on March 8 at NTEA’s Work Truck Week 2023 in Indianapolis.

The Blue Arc EV Solutions truck is optimized for crews with a walk-in-van style cab that features a sliding door and weather-protected steps for safe curbside entrance and exit, according to the announcement. An interior at 85 inches high and 88.5 inches wide allows crews to walk up into the cab, stand or sit, and set up a mobile workstation to stay plugged in throughout the day.

“It’s about flexibility, innovation and creating unique solutions for our customers,” said Daryl Adams, president and CEO, The Shyft Group. “The new Blue Arc Class 5 All Electric Crew Cab is truly in a class of its own... Not only is the Crew Cab EV designed explicitly for crew comfort, safety, and productivity, but this unique and highly flexible cab chassis allows for a variety of bodies for stake trucks, box trucks, dump trucks and more,” said Adams. “The applications are endless from landscaping to moving vans to power companies and others. This innovative truck brings new markets to Shyft and helps accelerate the transformation to EVs across our country.”

The vehicle uses Blue Arc’s proprietary, modular Class 5 commercial-grade EV chassis, and is built to handle payloads and go the distance in uses such as construction, trades, municipalities, snow removal, and landscaping.

The EV truck features lithium-ion liquid-cooled battery packs and an optional 450-watt-hour integrated solar roof package. It is optimized for Level 2 and DC fast charging with an accelerated charge time of two to six hours and a 200-plus mile range. The lightweight aluminum dump body is designed by the company’s DuraMag brand and features a payload capacity ranging from 6,000-10,000 pounds.

Blue Arc plans to integrate 360° cameras with 12-inch in-dash HD displays, front parking sensor and blind spot detection, tire pressure monitoring, weather-protected steps, and keyless and automated entry, the company said.

The Class 5 EV chassis will also be available in strip chassis and cowl chassis in the "near future" to electrify buses, shuttles, motorcoaches, and other vehicles making a transition to all-electric.

The Shyft Group also showcased innovations from its family of brands at Work Truck Week:

• Utilimaster celebrates 50 years in the delivery-vehicle sector in 2023 and is displaying its new Rapid Cab Cooling System, designed to efficiently and quickly provide drivers with protection from weather-related discomfort.

• Royal Truck Body highlights its new steel XP Service Body, engineered to eliminate water, salt, and chemical traps, and featuring a proprietary coating for a glossy, high-edge finish to seal out weather and wear. The body is third-party tested and performance-rated for 250,000 miles. It comes with standard features and the Royal Ladder Rack and Internal Master Lock Security system. The XP service body is now available in 8- and 9-foot configurations with an 11-foot model coming later this year at Royal and Duramag branches as well as select distributors.

• Magnum will feature select truck racks and accessories, including a new Commander Headache Rack complete with lighting kit from another Shyft brand, Strobes-R-Us. Magnum’s products improve safety and security for both trade workers hauling heavy machinery and materials and for outdoor enthusiasts transporting ATVs, snowmobiles, watercraft, and other equipment.

At Work Truck Week? Visit Shyft Group at booths #2921 and 2927.