@ACTExpo Round-up Day 2: Bollinger Motors, BYD, CityFreighter, ElectraMeccanica, JETSI, Electricfy America, GreenPower, Hexagon, Hino, Hyliion, Ideanomics, Karma Automotive, Navistar, Orange EV, Volvo, WattEV, XL Fleet & ZF – AUTO Connected Car News

Here is the first round-up of all the announcements at ACT Expo in Long Beach, California up until EOD Tuesday August 31. The announcements are in alphabetical order. Included are Bollinger Motors, CityFreighter, ElectraMechannica, JETSI, Electricfy America, GreenPower, Hexagon, Hino, Hyliion, Ideanomics, Karma Automotive, Navistar, Orange EV, Volvo, WattEV, XL Fleet and ZF.

Bollinger Motors Class 4 & 5

Bollinger Motors announced its development of Class 4 and 5 electric platforms today, adding to its existing development in Class 3 electric truck engineering. The full range of Chass-ETM platforms are the culmination of more than six years of electric-vehicle engineering, starting with the original Class 3 Bollinger B1 SUV, which debuted in 2017.

“We started from day one working on Class 3 all-electric trucks. We’ve proven our chops over the years with multiple prototypes, and our own battery development,” says CEO and founder Robert Bollinger. “Now we’re proud to take that hard work and provide electric-chassis solutions for OEMs and commercial customers in Classes 3, 4 and 5 — where large payloads, sufficient range, and long-life durability are practically mandatory.”

The electric-platform collection consists of Chass-E-3 with a payload of up to 8,000 lbs., Chass-E-4 with a payload up to 9,000 lbs., and Chass-E-5 with a payload up to 11,500 lbs. All three Chass-E platforms pull their energy from patent-pending Bollinger Motors 700-volt battery packs, available in 140, 210, and 280 kWh sizes.

“The variety of battery packs available to all three vehicle-class sizes means that the end customers can choose their payload, wheelbase, price point, and mile-range targets that best suit their fleet,” says Frank Jenkins, commercial sales director for Bollinger Motors.

The all-electric truck platforms are powered by solid rear axle E-Drives engineered for long-life commercial use.

“Solid rear axles are the cornerstone for commercial fleets. They are stronger and more durable than alternative ways to electrify trucks,” says David Cripps, chief engineer at Bollinger Motors. “It’s the most efficient way to switch to electrification, while keeping what works best for commercial.”

The Chass-E platforms are the perfect, fully operational electric skateboards to power commercial vehicles, including:

• Chassis Cabs
• Last-Mile Delivery Vans
• Freight Trucks
• Bucket Trucks
• Airport Tugs
• Autonomous Vehicles

BYD Introduces Next Generation Electric Trucks at ACT Expo

BYD unveiled two revolutionary battery-electric heavy-duty trucks, the Gen3 8TT and 6F, vehicles that combine performance, reliability, and driver comfort into stylish designs.

Unveiled at the ACT Expo in Long Beach, Calif., the Gen 3 8TT and 6F feature cabs styled by Wolfgang Josef Egger, the renowned former Audi chief designer. The stylish cabs offer improved aerodynamics and energy efficiency. The truck come standard with Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS), making driving easier and safer.

The trucks are equipped with an Electronic Parking Brake system, offer keyless entry and push to start functions, and have up to 185kW CCS1 charging capability. The extended range version of the 8TT and 6F offer a range of up to 200 miles on a charge.

Gen 3 8TT is a versatile vehicle, capable of performing drayage, regional haul, and distribution work. The 6F can perform regional haul and distribution work. It can also be equipped with a body for refuse collection.

“We listen to our customers and their drivers to ensure we provide the features and performance they need to get a job done,” said Stella Li, President of BYD North America. “With our next generation 6F and 8TT, we’re making history by setting a new standard for driver comfort and safety in an electric vehicle.”

BYD Electric Trucks operate clean and quiet, and have significantly fewer moving parts than carbon-burning trucks. With less noise and vibration than conventional vehicles, BYD trucks provide the operator with an improved driving experience and safer work environment.

BYD, the world’s largest manufacturer of electric vehicles, is the leader in battery-electric truck deployments with more than 8,000 trucks in service around the world and over 200 in service across the United States.

CITYFREIGHTER UNVEILS CF1: 100% ELECTRIC LAST‐MILE DELIVERY BOX VAN

CityFreighter today unveiled a ‘beta version’ of its CF1 fully electric box van at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in California. CF1 combines the space benefits of a truck with the maneuverability of a van. It features best‐in‐class payload and is specifically designed for last‐mile deliveries.

The ‘beta version’ CF1 at ACT Expo is an early production‐ready model for customer testing. As well as zero emissions it introduces new technology to Class 3* medium trucks, including a heat pump‐based thermal management system and steer‐by‐wire capability. CityFreighter has also focused on weight reduction, recyclability and ease of use for drivers.

“CF1 is a super compact vehicle designed specifically for the needs of last‐mile delivery.” said CityFreighter President Michael Schoening. “Its 20 m³/703 ft³ expandable payload volume is around 5m³/176.5ft³ more than typical cargo vans such as the Mercedes‐Benz Sprinter or the Ford Transit, making it truly best in class.”

CityFreighter Inc. launched in 2018. Its engineering philosophy promotes the intelligent use of proven components and methods where best suited, complemented by CityFreighter’s own ‘plug‐and‐play’ technology. This approach significantly reduces overall development costs and time‐to‐market, setting a new industry standard.

With CF1, CityFreighter has employed another brand hallmark: the modular design concept.

This enables maximum cargo space flexibility while the driver’s cabin can be customized as well. The version shown at the ACT Expo, has been designed for package delivery and features a walk‐through with easy‐in/easy‐out access for maximum driver convenience.

Using a heat pump for thermal management cleverly takes load from the battery to help increase driving range. The heat pump operates the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system and regulates battery and inverter temperatures. It can even be used to cool the cargo area for fresh food deliveries.

The customizable cargo box, featuring on CF1 at the ACT Expo, is made from recyclable composite materials and weighs less than 300kg/662lbs. The driver operates the vehicle’s features from a 15.6‐inch TFT touchscreen which also offers fleet management and third‐party integration. Other standard features will include over‐the‐air upgrade capability, 360‐degree cameras and an intelligent keyless‐go system.

CityFreighter will start production of CF1 at the end of 2022. It will be aimed at the US and EU markets first with a target price of less than $60,000 (51,100€) for the standard version. CityFreighter is currently taking pre‐orders for 2023 and 2024

 Technical Data

Range: 100 miles +

Battery: 77 kWh Lithium Ion

Payload volume: 20m³/703ft³

Payload weight: US 2,550kg/5622lb** (Europe 2,000kg/4,409 lbs)

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (Gross Vehicle Mass): US 4.8 tons** (Europe 4.25 tons)

Dimensions: 6584 (l) x 2700 (h) x2000 (w) mm ‐ 21.6 (l) x 8.86 (h) x 6.56 (w) ft

The vehicle dimensions have been expanded to approximately 8 cubic ft. of cargo space. The vehicle is 53” tall and approximately 123” long. The interior and exterior wrapping of the SOLO Cargo EV can be customizable based on a customer’s needs. Additional third-party up-fitting options are available such as warming and cooling elements for food delivery, strobe lighting and customized lighting for municipalities and security, and locked boxes along with shelves and bins.

Like its original version, the SOLO Cargo EV is a purpose-built, three-wheeled, all-electric solution for the modern, urban environment. Engineered for a single occupant and with a low total cost of ownership, it offers a unique driving experience for the environmentally conscious fleet, utility and commercial operator. The SOLO Cargo EV has a range of 100 miles and a top speed of 80 mph, making it safe for highways. It also features front and rear crumple zones, side impact protection, roll bar, torque-limiting control, as well as power steering, power brakes, air conditioning and a Bluetooth entertainment system. Interested parties can reach out to ElectraMeccanica for more information.

Electricfy America with NFI Ind. SQMD to Electricfy Really Bigi with JETSI

Electrify America and NFI Industries today announced plans for the nation’s single largest charging infrastructure project to support heavy-duty electric trucks, with 34 ultra-fast DC chargers slated for completion by December 2023. As the largest open DC fast charging network in the U.S., Electrify America was selected to deploy charging solutions including site configuration and energy management services.

With ambitious electrification goals and an eye toward the future of goods transportation, NFI will deploy 60 battery-electric drayage trucks, becoming the first 100% zero-emission fleet operator and truck shop in California. The Joint Electric Truck Scaling Initiative, or “JETSI” project will help fund 50 of the trucks, with 10 additional Volvo VNR Electrics funded by Volvo Trucks North America and SWITCHON.

The charging infrastructure to support this fleet will be installed at NFI’s Ontario, Calif. facility and feature 150kW and 350 kW ultra-fast chargers. The chargers will serve NFI’s growing fleet of batteryelectric freight trucks used for drayage at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, picking up containers from the ports and transporting them back to the Ontario facility. To bolster resiliency, leverage renewable electricity, and reduce ongoing costs, multiple megawatts (MW) of distributed energy resources (DER) will be co-located with the charging infrastructure, including both solar photovoltaic (PV) and energy storage.

In addition to NFI and Electrify America’s investments, the electric truck charging infrastructure project is partially funded by a joint project between the California Air Resources Board, California Energy Commission, and the South Coast Air Quality Management District (the Joint Electric Truck Scaling Initiative, “JETSI” project) to advance electric fleet adoption.

 This announcement comes on the heels of Electrify America’s second “Green City” investment to advance charging electrification for public transit and heavy-duty electric vehicles in the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, among other areas of the Wilmington neighborhood in the city of Los Angeles.  Electrify America and NFI’s new initiative will continue efforts to address the negative impact of emissions in this predominantly disadvantaged and low-income community (sixty-four percent of Long Beach and the Wilmington neighborhood of Los Angeles is classified as low-income and disadvantaged by the California Air Resources Board.)

In addition to selling charging solutions to those investing in electrification, Electrify America is continuing its mission to advance electric vehicle adoption among everyday drivers. The company recently announced its “Boost Plan” to more than double its current EV charging infrastructure in the United States and Canada, with plans to have more than 1,800 ultra-fast charging stations and 10,000 individual chargers installed by the end of 2025. The expansion will increase the deployment of 150 and 350 kilowatt chargers – 350kW being the fastest speed commercially available today – and help pave the way for more electric vehicles in North America.

Green Power Powers Electric School Bus the BEAST

Hexagon

Hexagon Purus and Ballard Power Systems are announced a new collaboration to produce Class 6 & 7 Fuel Cell Electric Trucks powered by Hexagon Purus’ turnkey electric drivetrain and hydrogen storage system solutions and Ballard’s fuel cell module.

This revolutionary truck will provide a range of over 400 miles and refueling times comparable to conventional trucks. It is a zero-emission solution for fleet owners with demanding operations, moving goods through the ‘middle miles,’ without the need to expand their fleet.

Ballard’s 8^th generation of the fuel cell module, the FCmove™, provides a zero-emissions electric power source, with the reliability of over four decades of technology development and over 50 million miles of on-the-road experience.

Hexagon Purus’ lightweight type 4 H2 storage systems, high energy density ProPack battery storage, and fully integrated electrified accessory systems deliver light, efficient and long range zero-emissions power for electrified commercial vehicles.

Look for this truck to enter California’s Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Program (HVIP) eligible vehicle list in 2022. First fleet deployments will be in and around the Los Angeles Basin area – a market with some of the nation’s most stringent air quality regulations.  California leads the US in supporting the deployment of hydrogen fuel cell technology, including development of a statewide hydrogen fueling infrastructure to service fuel cell vehicles.

Both Hexagon Purus and Ballard have provided hydrogen solutions and equipment to industry for decades. This collaboration of two industry veterans is expected to enable accelerated adoption of hydrogen and fuel cells in heavy-duty transport applications. Driving energy transformation. 

 Heavy-duty trucks are typically used for highway transportation; therefore, they are required to have sufficient cruising range and load capacity as well as fast refueling capability. For this reason, fuel cell vehicles that run on hydrogen with its higher energy density are considered effective.

Hydrogen fuel cells are a no-combustion technology that require a constant source of fuel and oxygen to create electricity. They emit only water. Hydrogen tanks on a fuel cell electric car or truck can be refilled in about the same amount of time as liquid fuel tanks, eliminating the lengthy recharging times required by battery-dependent electric vehicles. Hydrogen is available today from a variety of carbon-free and low carbon sources, providing low or even negative total carbon emissions from transport fleets, and zero smog-forming pollutants.

Hino Hydrogen Class 8 Truck

Hyliion Electric Class 8 Powertrains

Hyliion Holdings Corp. (NYSE: HYLN) (“Hyliion”), a leader in electrified powertrain solutions for Class 8 commercial semi-trucks, will be unveiling an improved model of its Hybrid system at the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo in Long Beach, California.

Designated the Hyliion Hybrid eX, this updated version of Hyliion’s sustainability-focused hybrid powertrain offers fleets a lighter solution that is easier to install, service, and operate. The Hybrid eX draws upon the real-world feedback Hyliion has received from customers and the millions of miles logged with the previous system.

The Hybrid eX features a number of improvements over the earlier Hybrid configuration, including:

• A simpler, more rugged design with a consolidated battery box that aims to significantly streamline the installation process
• Reduced net system weight, allowing for greater payload
• New e-axle for improved efficiency
• Refined software and cloud connectivity aiming to deliver over-the-air performance and proprietary updates more efficiently
• New automatic traction-assist feature and updated control interfaces striving for improved driver experience
• Cybersecurity advancements to adhere to the latest in industry best practices

“The launch of the enhanced version of our Hybrid powertrain is a major milestone in our Hybrid commercialization process and reflects the ongoing work we are doing to innovate for the benefit of commercial fleets and the environment,” said Thomas Healy, Founder and CEO of Hyliion. “We expect these improvements to make the Hybrid that much easier for fleets to adopt, while also helping them to achieve their ESG and emissions targets.”

Hyliion will unveil the Hybrid eX for the first time today at the ACT Expo in Long Beach, California and is expected to begin shipping Hybrid eX units in the latter part of 2021. Initial recipients include both returning Hyliion customers, and new customers like Werner Enterprises, whose semi-truck will be featured in Hyliion’s booth at the ACT Expo. After the launch of the Hybrid eX product, the company expects to recognize revenue on these units.

Hyliion’s Hybrid solution is designed for Class 8 diesel and CNG commercial trucks, providing fuel savings, performance and other improvements via an energy regeneration powered electric hybrid system, depending on truck configuration and fuel type. Combined with Hyliion’s proprietary software and battery technology, this comprehensive solution—which also contains an integrated hoteling auxiliary power unit (APU) to reduce idling—aims to assist fleets to achieve maximum operational performance, driving progress towards their sustainability goals.

Ideanomics, located at Booth #1159, is showcasing its synergistic ecosystem of subsidiaries that shape the future of clean transportation across the three key pillars of EV: Vehicles, Charging, and Energy as follows:

• Solectrac , North America’s first manufacturer and distributor of 100% battery-powered, all-electric tractors offers better performing, more efficient, and zero-emission equipment for agriculture and utility operations. Solectrac will have the all-new e70N (Narrow) Electric Tractor on display inside the booth.
• WAVE , a leading developer of high-power wireless charging solutions, enables commercial fleet operators a faster, easier way to extend the range of medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles with systems ranging from 125kW to 500kW and a 1MW charger in development. An in-booth activation will feature WAVE’s case study of the largest electric mass transit bus fleet in the U.S. at Antelope Valley Transit Authority.
• US Hybrid is a designer and manufacturer of zero-emission electric powertrain components for electric, hybrid, and fuel cell medium- and heavy-duty municipality vehicles, commercial trucks, buses, and specialty vehicles for leading OEMs in the private and public sectors. US Hybrid will have the FCe 100 (Fuel Cell Engine) on display inside our booth, as well as the all-electric Street Sweeper (GEP) and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Paratransit Van (SARTA) stationed outside on the concourse.

“We are delighted to have a major presence in this year’s ACT Expo and showcase the wide breadth of innovative solutions that have come into the Ideanomics family in the past year,” said Alf Poor , CEO of Ideanomics. “We look forward to sharing some of our cutting-edge technologies with peers and colleagues from around the world at the event. This is a critical milestone in our mission to advance the future of clean transportation, dedicated to the needs of commercial fleet operators in the transition to zero-emission vehicles.”

JESTI to Rescue

South Coast AQMD Leads North America’s Largest Deployment of Class 8 Battery‐Electric Trucks

The South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) is leading a landmark effort along with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the California Energy Commission (CEC) to deploy 100 battery‐electric regional haul and drayage trucks across California. The battery‐electric trucks will be deployed through a partnership with NFI Industries (NFI) and Schneider.

The project, known as Joint Electric Truck Scaling Initiative, or JETSI, is the largest commercial deployment of battery‐electric trucks in North America to date, helping to significantly increase the number of zero‐emission heavy‐duty trucks available for goods movement while achieving necessary emission reductions. This is the first battery‐electric truck project jointly financed by CARB and the CEC, and the largest investment of its kind.

The project is poised to reduce five tons of pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) annually along Southern California’s I‐710 corridor, as well as eliminate 8,247 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. Connecting the San Pedro Bay Port complex to inland distribution centers and warehouses, the I‐710 sees more than twice the average Los Angeles freeway truck traffic and accounts for 20% of all PM emissions in Southern California. The JETSI project will inform large fleets on the capabilities of battery‐electric trucks to ensure the emission reductions achieved are sustainable and improve the air quality for communities most impacted.

Project partners Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) and Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo Trucks) will produce and deliver the Class 8 battery‐electric trucks (BETs) for deployment in Schneider and NFI’s Southern California fleet operations. Operating almost exclusively in disadvantaged communities, the zero‐emission trucks will replace the equivalent of more than 690,000 diesel‐gallons annually while helping to accelerate commercialization of heavy‐duty battery‐electric vehicles across the market.

DTNA will deliver 80 battery‐electric Freightliner eCascadias, the company’s first all‐electric commercial Class 8 truck, to both Schneider (50 trucks) and NFI (30 trucks). Schneider will deploy the 50 eCascadias within its intermodal operations in Southern California. Volvo Trucks will deliver another 20 VNR Electric trucks, an all‐electric Class 8 model that the company commercialized in late 2020, to NFI. With the deployment of a combined 50 BETs at its Ontario facility, NFI will operate the first 100% zero‐emission freight logistics fleet in California. Through the JETSI project, NFI and Schneider will collectively install significant charging infrastructure (50 chargers total), warehouse upgrades, on‐site energy storage and rooftop solar, resulting in more than $16.8 million of regional economic activity from associated construction costs. Over 20 project partners representing charging equipment manufacturers, infrastructure providers, nonprofit organizations, technology suppliers and more will collaborate on the eight‐year project to ensure all aspects of fleet electrification are considered.

 The project was funded with $26.98 million from CARB’s California Climate Investments Initiative and the CEC’s Clean Transportation Program, $5.43 million from South Coast AQMD, as well as $41.37 million in funding from project partners.

JETSI represents an unprecedented industry‐wide collaboration among more than 20 public and private stakeholders. The project was assembled and will be led by South Coast Air Quality Management District along with support from the California Air Resources Board, California Energy Commission, the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC), Schneider, NFI Industries, Daimler Trucks

North America, and Volvo Trucks North America. Partners including Green Paradigm Consulting, Power Electronics, Electrify Commercial, Gladstein, Neandross & Associates (GNA), Coalition for Clean Air, CALSTART, Electric Power Research Institute, Ricardo Strategic Consulting, Los Angeles Cleantech

Incubator, Black & Veatch, and University of California, Riverside. The Port of Long Beach, Port of Los Angeles, and Southern California Edison will also be contributing to the project.

Karma Automotive Powers Electric Class 3-6 EVs

Karma Automotive, a southern California-based producer of luxury electric vehicles, today announced a new designation for their suite of engineering services and contract manufacturing operations called “Powered by Karma.” The team, which is an evolution of Karma’s business to business offerings, will reveal two new modular electrification vehicle projects at the Advanced Clean Tech (ACT) Expo taking place August 31 through September 1 at the Long Beach Convention Center in California.

Powered by Karma provides business to business (B2B) modular vehicle electrification solutions and services to outside customers. Using the company’s experience in vehicle engineering and manufacturing operations, the team creates and integrates new technologies and provides world-class flexible contract production services for customers in the mobility space. Powered by Karma also creates modular, commercial-grade electrification systems that can be used for Class 3-6 vehicles in various configurations including busses, RVs, step vans, box trucks, and more.

The California-based Karma Innovation and Customization Center (KICC) offers unique solutions for project completion acting as a one-stop shop for partners and customers. KICC’s flexible production facility allows for contract manufacturing of diverse mobility products from high end luxury vehicles to advanced powertrains and even low speed commercial vehicles.

Karma has been in business since 2014 and has more than 7.5 million real-world miles on their existing vehicle fleet, which provides a wealth of process improvement data for current and future electrification projects, including pure electric and series hybrid propulsion variants.

“As a progressive, tech-forward company, Karma is committed to seeking out relationships with like-minded businesses that push the EV envelope,” said Dr. Lance Zhou, Karma’s CEO. “Electrification is quickly becoming the new standard for commercial and fleet vehicles, and we have vast experience in producing hybrid and pure electric propulsion systems to meet our customers’ needs.”

Representatives from Powered by Karma will be available in booth #346 at this year’s ACT Expo to showcase two new electrification projects. A Class 4-6 walk-in van and a new Karma GS-6 luxury electric vehicle will be on display at the Powered by Karma booth. Ride and drive opportunities will also be available outside of the convention center in a Class 3-4 shuttle bus for those interested in experiencing Karma’s segment-leading technology.

Powered by Karma Class 3-6 Commercial Vehicle Modular Electrification System Configurations*

• 100% Electric Drive with- standard, medium, and long-range options
• Flexible propulsion and accessory hardware and software to power a range of Class 3-6 vehicles
• More than 200 kW of tunable power
• More than 1,800 Nm of torque
  • Up to 30% Grade
• Top Speed 80mph (speed limited)
• 3-Mode regenerative braking
• Optional push button start/stop functionality

*Configurations currently under development

NAVISTAR

Navistar has introduced its concept for the NEXTperience trailer, a mobile unit that will offer specific eMobility training sessions to dealers and customers hosted by Navistar’s NEXT eMobility Solutions team. The mobile trailer will be used for sales, service and training events to create a cross-functional experience and provide end-to-end solutions. The NEXTperience trailer is expected to launch early 2022.

The goal of the NEXTperience mobile trailer is to enable Navistar to connect dealers and customers on educational topics necessary to advance the adoption of electrification within the trucking industry. Using the NEXTperience mobile unit, the Navistar team is dedicated to creating an all-inclusive customer experience ranging from the introduction of electric vehicles (EVs) to the end of battery life. This concept trailer will allow Navistar to be agile and prepared as new regions begin to deploy zero emissions technology and expect further education on the sustainable adoption of EVs.

The NEXTperience trailer is currently positioned to provide the following experiences:

• Sales Training
• Customer meetings and events
• Dealer and customer high voltage safety and lockout tagout (LOTO) training
• Dealer Service Technician certification
• Local community zero emissions and safety training
• Driver training
• Charger training

Navistar announced today the launch of the new fully-electric International^® eMV™ Series trucks. The International eMV is the result of Navistar’s commitment to safe, reliable, zero emissions solutions that improve customer total cost of ownership (TCO) and deliver on value-added business objectives.

The International eMV is designed to tackle everyday use, built to the same rigorous standards as the trusted diesel International MV™ Series truck. With thoughtful design for improved visibility and maneuverability, the eMV is ideal for any straight rail application. It is available in four different wheelbase options – 217″, 236″, 254″ and 272″ – and features the Diamond Logic^® electrical system as standard equipment.

Designed to get the job done right, the eMV’s battery electric motor provides peak power of over 335 horsepower or 250 kilowatts, with continuous power of 215 HP or 160 kW. The eMV has a 210kW capacity high voltage battery that provides a 135-mile range when fully charged. Batteries are packages between the frame rails for additional protection and under warranty for five years or 100,000 miles. The eMV is also equipped with three levels of regenerative braking, allowing the vehicle to collect kinetic energy from braking and store it in the battery for use. To ensure the driver has complete awareness of the eMV’s operational status, a state-of-the-art digital instrument cluster includes information on propulsion and regenerative load, state of charge indicator and regenerative braking indicator.

The International eMV also offers both AC and DC charging capabilities as standard equipment to allow customers to choose the best option for their fleets. The recommended Level 2 AC charging station is suitable for overnight charging and provides roughly 19.2 kW of power. The DC Fast Charge station option provides up to 125 kilowatt hours of power. The Fast Charge station also has the capability to provide multiple power options. At its highest kWh input, it can provide a full charge to the eMV in under two hours.

ORANGE EV Yard Trucks

Orange EV, a leading manufacturer of innovative, heavy-duty, EV truck solutions, today announced its yard trucks have surpassed several unparalleled milestones that cement its status at the forefront of the Class 8 zero-emission truck space: three million miles of usage, one million hours of operation, and an average uptime of 97 percent for trucks built since 2018, and 99 percent for trucks built since 2020.  

 With uptime for diesel-powered yard trucks often within the 75-80 percent range, this not only makes Orange EV yard trucks an environmentally conscious, cleaner and quieter alternative, but one with potential to overhaul and improve efficiency and productivity across freight, warehousing, distribution, manufacturing, intermodal environments, and more. 

 “For every company moving trailers or containers, Orange EV aims to provide a superior operational and financial alternative to diesel yard trucks, while accelerating the inevitable transition to electric that will eliminate harmful diesel particulate and greenhouse gas emissions,” said Zack Ruderman, VP of Sales and Marketing at Orange EV.  

 Yard trucks generally operate within the confines of a facility’s freight/cargo yard, moving containers short distances at speeds in the range of 5-25 mph. Surpassing three million EV miles is a significant accomplishment given the slow-speed, stop-start nature of yard truck operation.  

 Proven Cost Savings and 7.5-year Battery Warranty 

 With data from more than 90 fleets having already deployed Orange EV yard trucks over the past six years, it has become clear that replacing fossil-fuel powered yard trucks with Orange EV electric trucks is more cost-effective. Customers experience significant savings, especially from fuel, maintenance, and repairs. Lifetime savings can be as much as $500,000, with Orange EV trucks expected to maintain their strong performance and uptime for 10 years or more. 

 Diesel yard trucks are often traded in or sold after 4 or 5 years of use before their maintenance and repair costs skyrocket. The biggest culprits of downtime and maintenance expense for a diesel yard truck – the engine, transmission, and emissions control system – are not present in Orange EV electric trucks. Instead, Orange EV trucks are equipped with long-life brushless induction motors and zero maintenance lithium-ion battery packs, now with a battery warranty up to 7.5 years or 396,000 kWh of use, whichever comes first. 

 Orange EV yard trucks also offer a number of health and productivity benefits for businesses and employees. Some of these benefits include safer and cleaner working environments, less downtime due to illness or injury, and reduced exposure to toxic compounds and heavy metals, dangerously loud trucks, and extreme engine heat.  The difference for the driver experience is dramatic, with Orange EV trucks becoming the truck of choice on site, much preferred over traditional diesels. This improved driver satisfaction can lead to increased employee retention, an important factor considering current worker shortages. 

Mobility House

California based Phoenix Motorcars, a subsidiary of SPI Energy Ltd. (NASDAQ:SPI), a global renewable energy company and provider of solar storage and electric vehicle (EV) solutions for business, residential, government, logistics and utility customers and investors, announced its participation at the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo (ACT Expo) from August 31^st to September 1^st at the Long Beach Convention Center. Long Beach City is a leader on the clean energy front in the state and across the nation.

Visitors to the show can interact at the display with the latest range of all-electric medium-duty vehicles and EV charging solutions offered by Phoenix Motorcars at booth no. 1059. Visitors are also encouraged to experience the technology via ride-and-drive in its all-electric shuttle bus. Now on its third-generation drivetrain technology, Phoenix delivered its first all-electric shuttle bus in 2014 and since then served customers across several industries including airport parking companies, transit agencies, cities, municipalities, ports, large corporate campuses, universities and more.

As the medium-duty electric vehicle industry grows rapidly (a compound annual growth rate of 51.6% through 2030, according to PS Market Research), Phoenix Motorcars is well positioned to support the effort with over a decade of experience and expertise in electrifying fleets with a variety of products. Phoenix Motorcars recently surpassed 2.75 million electric miles driven by fully electric trucks and shuttle buses in operation.

Along with its record of innovation and reliability, Phoenix Motorcars offers the widest range of options for trucks, customizable configurations, battery pack options, and provides industry-leading range and warranties, complementing SPI Energy’s broader operations in EVs, solar generation, storage, and battery products.

VOLVO

Performance Team – A Maersk Company, a warehousing and distribution company, has placed an order for 16 Volvo VNR Electric Class 8 trucks—the largest commercial order of the North American zero-tailpipe emission model to date. The VNR Electric model from Volvo Trucks North America is the first zero-tailpipe emission, battery-electric Class 8 truck in Performance Team’s fleet, which will be on the road by end of year. When put into service, all 16 vehicles will be carrying regional loads daily to customers across Southern California.

VOLVO TRUCKS

 Volvo Trucks North America, Dependable Highway Express (DHE), SunPower

Corp. and Kuehne+Nagel today announced a new sustainable freight initiative to transport solar photovoltaics (PV) products using solar-powered Volvo VNR Electric trucks. DHE’s zero-emission, battery-electric Class 8 trucks will run warehouse distribution routes for SunPower from its facility in Ontario, California, where they are recharged daily by 100% renewable electricity generated by onsite solar panels.

In the fall of 2020, DHE became one of the first fleet operators in North America to deploy Volvo VNR Electric trucks, which have since been integrated into its daily freight transport routes throughout Southern California. This summer, DHE deployed three additional Volvo VNR

Electrics and solidified its plans to take delivery of an additional 10 Volvo VNR Electric box trucks in 2022.

“As a renewable energy company committed to doing the right thing, we have to consider the impact of our entire supply chain,” said Brian Campbell, vice president of supply chain at SunPower. “In the face of today’s climate emergency, there is a collective responsibility to act now to lower carbon  emissions and integrate sustainable transportation for solar and storage. We now help reduce dependence on fossil fuels from the moment our product leaves the warehouse.”

The collaboration between DHE and SunPower is managed by Kuehne+Nagel, the company that oversees transportation and logistics for SunPower’s products. SunPower and Kuehne+Nagel have also partnered on an array of other sustainability strategies, including reducing transport trips by condensing shipments into fewer trucks, and reducing total trip mileage by utilizing alternative distribution hubs.

WattEV Builds First Solar-Powered EV Truck Stop

WattEV Inc., a company dedicated to accelerating the heavy-duty trucking industry’s transition to electric drive, announced it is set to receive a $5 million grant from the California Energy Commission to build the state’s first solar-powered truck stop dedicated to heavy-duty electric trucks. Groundbreaking for the project is expected in late October.

“The electric truck stop in Bakersfield is the first step toward our commitment to help build the charging infrastructure network necessary to accelerate the heavy-duty trucking sector’s transition to electric drive,” Youssefzadeh said, “and to get more heavy-duty electric trucks on the road in California as quickly as possible.”

Partners joining WattEV and the CEC on the Bakersfield electric truck stop project include the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, the Central California Asthma Collaborative, Greenlots, Power Electronics and several others.

In addition to the Bakersfield project, WattEV is in the planning stages for similar projects in San Bernardino and Gardena in Southern California. Both of these electric truck stops will serve the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach and the warehouses fed by goods coming through the ports.

To enable these projects and support further expansion, WattEV has raised $6 million in private equity seed funding led by Canon Equity.

WattEV also has secured purchase incentive vouchers through the California Air Resources Board’s Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP), initially for six VNR Electric Class 8 trucks from Volvo Group, and has applied for 24 more electric truck HVIP vouchers.

All told, WattEV plans to run its own fleet of 30 heavy-duty electric trucks by the end of 2022 to deploy under contract with several Southern California fleet customers.

The first fleet partnership is with Total Transportation Services, Inc. (TTSI), one of the leading freight transporters making the transition to EV trucks serving the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and with a presence in Bakersfield. TTSI will be offering electric transport freight services to shippers in Southern California on routes served by WattEV’s platform.

The partnership between WattEV and TTSI is an initial step toward reducing significant emissions of particulate matter, oxides of nitrogen and carbon produced by the thousands of mostly older, diesel Class 8 trucks registered to serve two of the busiest ports in the nation and the San Joaquin Valley.

To help accelerate the transition to electric goods movement, WattEV is developing an advanced software platform – trucks-as-a-service (TaaS) – designed specifically for the use of electric trucks within its network of charging stations on designated routes. The TaaS platform will help fleets and individual truckers meet requirements of shippers with sustainability goals while serving transporters with a viable economic model.

The TaaS platform will offer an all-inclusive, charge-per-mile formula that will enable a transporter to efficiently and cost-effectively use an electric truck to move goods normally handled with diesel trucks on the routes selected by shippers committed to clean air.

XL Fleet Hybrid Electric for Ram Heavy Trucks

XL Fleet Corp. (NYSE: XL) (“XL Fleet” or the “Company”), a leader in vehicle electrification solutions for commercial and municipal fleets, is showingin ts hybrid electric drive system for Ram 2500 and 3500 heavy duty pickup trucks. The XLH™ system represents the Company’s first electrification product to be available for Ram Commercial, Stellantis’ (NYSE: STLA) line of commercial pickup trucks.

XL Fleet’s newest product represents the fourth OEM platform on which its electrification systems are compatible, which also includes hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric drive solutions for Ford, General Motors and Isuzu fleet vehicles. With the Ram 2500 and 3500 heavy duty pickup models added to its hybrid product line, XL Fleet now electrifies four of the U.S.’s top-selling pickup brands, including Ford F-series, Chevrolet Silverado, Ram and GMC Sierra trucks.

With the addition of Stellantis, the world’s fourth largest automaker, and its popular Ram truck and commercial lineup to its roster of OEM partners, XL Fleet continues to diversify its product portfolio to meet a broader range of vehicles, applications and specifications for its fleet customers. Ram pickups are renowned among fleets for their exceptional towing capability, comfort and luxury design, and can now realize significant fuel economy improvements and CO2 emissions reductions with an XL Hybrid electric drive system installed.

The XLH hybrid electric drive system is now available for select Ram 2500 / 3500 models with the 6.4L V8 engine and a wide range of wheelbases, cab configurations and drivelines. The XLH system features a high-efficiency lithium-ion battery, inverter and electric traction motor, which helps to propel the vehicle forward during acceleration and captures energy through regenerative braking during deceleration.

As with the rest of the XLH hybrid electric upfit applications, the system requires no external power or charging infrastructure to operate, and all OEM factory warranties remain intact. The XLH system includes XL Fleet’s standard 3-year, 75,000-mile warranty, with extended warranty options available. The systems are also currently available on a wide variety of Class 2-6 vehicles from Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, and Isuzu.

ZF Introduces Next Generation Technologies for Clean and Efficient Commercial Vehicles ZF electrifies technologies to drive North America’s

ZF Product Portfolio Offers a Gateway to the Future

ZF’s product portfolio, including the AxTrax electric axle and the CeTrax  electric central drive, supports OEs greenhouse gas (GHG) challenges. “We are nearing 1 million miles of real-world experience with AxTrax on the Freightliner eCascadia with tremendous results,” Feldhaus explained. “We’re pleased to announce that by 2023, ZF will progressively launch a complete modular next generation of electric drives, with axle and central drives for pickups, trucks and buses of up to 100,000 lbs. – and a major North American OE will launch in the same year”. ZF’s all-new electric drives will offer up to 360kW continuous power for battery electric or fuel cell electric vehicles.

PowerLine Paving the Way to Clean and Efficient Mobility As a near-term technology evolution, ZF announced in February that it is investing $200 million in North American commercial vehicle transmission manufacturing at its South Carolina transmission facility. Multiple North American customers have signed multi-year contracts and while U.S. production will begin in 2023, PowerLine is on U.S. roads today. “While eMobility is presenting itself at a fast pace, conventional automatic transmissions should not be overlooked as they continue to play a significant role supporting OEs to meet GHG targets for the next decades,” Feldhaus said. “PowerLine can help generate fuel savings of more than 10 percent and is package protected for mild hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) platforms, supporting the industry transformation to a fully electrified future.” The efficiency of PowerLine is being proven in everyday operation by North American fleets.

In addition to ZF advanced driveline solutions, whether automatic transmissions or ZF’s full eDrive portfolio, ZF also offers electric power steering, advanced air management and braking system technology – making ZF the most capable system integration partner – creating synergies and developing technologies that electrify commercial vehicle systems.

• ZF electric power steering helps achieve more fully electrified vehicle architectures
• ZF advanced air management is now available for North American applications, and combines decades of expertise to bring highly efficient and intelligent air management solutions to the market to minimize energy use, fuel consumption and reduce emissions
• Electronic Air Compressor, e-comp, provides an efficient solution for the new generation of electric, hybrid and fuel cell commercial vehiclesElectronic Air Processing, eSystem Saver, solutions intelligently and efficiently control the air management system to improve fuel economy, drying performance and air quality

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