California Governor Gavin Newsom has laid out a $6.1 billion spending plan that continues to spotlight zero-emission transportation. The proposal includes a total of $10 billion in clean transportation funding over six years. CALSTART president and CEO John Boesel commented on the proposal by saying “Governor Newsom’s budget is akin to bringing in the cavalry in the fight to achieve climate goals and the effort to build the clean transportation industry.”
Growth in the full-size zero-emission bus (ZEBs) market is also on CALSTART’s mind having recently published our annual inventory of ZEBs. The report shows that the inventory of ZEBs has grown 27% since the 2020 count. And soon, more ZEBs will be manufactured in West Virginia thanks to Green Power Motor Company signing an agreement with the state to lease/purchase a 9.5-acre manufacturing facility in South Charleston. The company will manufacture their all-electric school buses there.
Speaking of, the Texas Clean School Bus Program is gearing up and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) will hold a webinar on January 19 offering details on submitting an application.
USA Truck is about to add the first zero-emission vehicles to their fleet, and they’ve chosen 10 battery-electric trucks from Nikola. The agreement includes an option to buy an additional 90 Nikola trucks over the next two years.
The news from Eaton today is that they have bought EV connector manufacturer Royal Power Solutions for $600 million. Royal Power Solutions manufactures high-precision connectivity parts for EVs, mobility markets, industrial uses, and energy management.
There are two stories out today about General Motors (GM). The first is that the company has plans to launch electric heavy-duty trucks by 2035. The electric trucks will be geared towards hauling and towing. In other GM news, the company sent off a letter to Governor Newsom recognizing California’s authority to set vehicle emissions standards. This is a reversal of their previous position and California has agreed to add GM to its list of auto manufacturers to consider for fleet vehicle purchases.
The Anglo-American startup Arrival has a knack for sleek design and now they are announcing an addition to their lineup of buses and vans by talking about their first car. The company is building a purpose-built vehicle for ride-hailing, and they expect it to roll off the production line in the fall of 2023. Audi had a good year in 2021 for EV launches and the company is targeting the next five years to focus on electrification and hybridization as part of its commitment to an electric future.
Note to CALSTART Member Companies Only-mark your calendar for a Virtual Federal Policy Forum to be held on Wednesday, January 26 from 9-11 a.m. Pacific time. Decision-makers from the Biden Administration and key federal legislators look at the upcoming opportunities to shape what’s ahead in accelerating clean transportation. Members can register here.
CALSTART Statement on Governor Newsom’s Budget, CALSTART | https://bit.ly/3FldNZJ
Study Shows 27% Growth in Zero Emission Buses, Metro | https://bit.ly/3zRf3CE
Green Power to Manufacture Zero-Emission Vehicles in West Virginia, WTRF | https://bit.ly/3FfdVtK
Texas Clean School Bus Program, TCEQ | https://bit.ly/3qloirO
USA Truck to Buy 10 Nikola Tre BEV Trucks, Trucking Info | https://bit.ly/3Fyp7lv
Eaton Acquires Royal Power Solutions, Transport Topics | https://bit.ly/3r9DY0p
GM Will Launch Electric HD Trucks by 2035, CarandDriver | https://bit.ly/33vb6Y7
GM Recognizes California’s Authority to Set Vehicle Emissions Rules, autoblog | https://bit.ly/3zSYfv3
Arrival Offers an Early Look at Its First EV, engadget | https://engt.co/3zRdXqt
Audi’s Portfolio Fully Electric by 2033, Yahoo! finance | https://yhoo.it/3qmWYtg
CALSTART Member Only Virtual Federal Policy Forum, CALSTART | https://bit.ly/3FyByhb
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