WORK EVS

Forget Diesel. NSSL’s Real-World Results with Orange EV Electric Shunt Trucks

April 22, 2025

The Orange EV HUSK-e electric shunt truck can fully charge in about 2 hours.
NSSL’s Shuntware system offers real-time tracking of EV usage and sustainability metrics.
Orange EV’s trucks have achieved over 98% uptime, surpassing many diesel counterparts.

Think electric trucks can’t handle heavy-duty yard work? Think again. The logistics industry has long leaned on diesel yard trucks to keep freight moving. But that grip is slipping, quietly, efficiently, and with far fewer fumes. National Shunt Service Ltd. (NSSL) is proving it by deploying electric shunt trucks from Orange EV across their Canadian and U.S. operations.

The HUSK-e series from Orange EV pulls its weight, literally. With a Gross Combined Weight Rating of up to 180,000 lbs and a top speed of 32 MPH, it’s not playing catch-up to diesel.

“HUSK-e has been designed specifically for port and rail power, torque, and load requirements,” said Kurt Neutgens, President and CTO at Orange EV. That’s not marketing lingo, it’s just what the truck does.

And downtime? Not much of it. These electric yard trucks maintain 98-99% uptime. There are no oil changes to schedule. No diesel filters to clog up or replace. And far fewer unexpected maintenance calls pulling trucks out of service. Electric yard trucks like the ones from Orange EV keep things simple by design.

Orange EV uses lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, offering a safer chemistry with longer battery life and fewer headaches. Their standard warranty is even and a half years. That’s a lot of trailers moved.

NSSL is taking a full-systems approach to yard operations. Instead of replacing trucks, they’ve integrated real-time data tracking through their proprietary Shuntware platform. Dispatchers can monitor battery levels, charging status, and key sustainability metrics as they happen.

This goes far beyond location tracking. It’s real, actionable information, which is delivered instantly. And it helps operators make smarter decisions, reduce downtime, and keep yards running smoothly without guesswork.

Then there’s the money. Fuel and maintenance savings can hit over $120,000 per truck per year in busy operations. That’s not an estimate. That’s based on real-world use. And it stacks up fast, especially for fleets operating on two or more shifts a day.

Ray Stewart, President and CEO of NSSL, said it clearly, “We are constantly looking for ways to push the boundaries of efficiency and sustainability in the yard management space, and Orange EV’s trucks deliver exactly that.” He did not dress it up. No slogans. No marketing spin. Just a direct acknowledgment that the technology works, and it works well.

Wayne Mathisen, Co-Founder and CEO of Orange EV, backed that up. “Integrating e-TRIEVER and HUSK-e trucks into operations at multiple sites, NSSL is providing their customers with the best yard trucks available while also demonstrating how flexible, efficient, and cost-effective Orange EV’s turnkey truck and charging solutions are for modern yard management needs.”

This isn’t some distant concept waiting for approval or testing. The electric shunt trucks are already on the ground. The systems are running. And with every new site, they’re proving that clean, efficient yard operations do not require a tailpipe.