NEWSNOTES | March 16, 2022
News Notes

The Department of Energy is doing their part to strengthen the U.S. supply chain by providing $2.91 billion to boost production of the advanced batteries to grow the electric vehicle (EV) and energy storage industries of the future. Replacing an internal combustion engine (ICE)

A study by Ford and the University of Michigan found that carbon emissions and air pollution will decrease as electric trucks replace sales of internal-combustion-engine (ICE) pickups. The finding is that there is a seventy-four metric ton reduction of carbon dioxide equivalent over the vehicle’s lifetime on average.

Sea Electric, in partnership with Blue Bird is doing its part to replace diesel school buses with electric. Their zero-emission technology will cost less than $200k, benefitting from a five-year battery warranty and a 50,000-mile warranty for the drive system. Highland Electric continues to innovate in the school bus space, too, this time through a $320k award from the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA). The funds will be used to purchase and deploy four electric school buses on behalf of the Baltimore City Public Schools.

Road trip! ABC Companies took their zero-emission, battery-electric Van Hool Double Decker motorcoach on a journey from their headquarters in Winter Garden, Florida all the way to Costa Mesa, California. Using public charging stations along the way, the company completed the 2,500-mile journey over six days.

CALSTART member companies from throughout the U.S. participated in NTEA’s Work Truck Week and CALSTART’s member reception last week in large numbers. Among the many reveals, Morgan Truck Body unveiled their electrified refrigerated concept, which is mounted on a Lion Electric chassis. Morgan is introducing several innovative technologies as part of its electrification strategy. Hyzon CEO Craig Knight spearheaded conversation around fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) during the Green Truck Summit, which was part of Work Truck Week. Knight observed how critical hydrogen is in transitioning to a clean, zero-emission operation. Cummins was represented as well and pointed out their efforts to meet existing customer needs while transitioning to new technologies.

Do you want a charge with that latte? Soon, thanks to Volvo partnering with ChargePoint, there will be a network of EV chargers at Starbucks locations across five states. The pilot, which begins this year, will be in Starbucks locations along a 1,350-mile route from Denver to Seattle. Depending on usage rates, Starbucks will decide if they want to expand the service.

Einride, a Swedish company that launched its services in the U.S. last November, aims to transform the trucking industry with electric autonomous pods designed to move freight around ports and distribution centers.  Electrek explains the distinction between a Remote Pod Operator vs. a driver. The company has a regional office in Austin, Texas and is planning for its US headquarters to be in New York.

Speaking of Sweden and cars of the future, Stephen Colbert is here to make you chuckle as he caught a glimpse of a personal electric aerial vehicle that you can own and fly. He wants to own this new “Jetson ONE” and he wants it enough to reveal something very personal. Check it out.

RESOURCES

DOE Funding Opportunities for US Battery Supply Chain, ChargedEvs | https://bit.ly/3MXZPSH

GHG Emissions Drop 2/3^rd with EV Pickups or SUVs, Mlive | https://bit.ly/3qcFDCB

Sea Electric to Power Electric School Buses, autoevolution | https://bit.ly/3u2hfVB

Highland Electric School Bus Award, NGT News | https://bit.ly/3CVo92Y

Van Hool Completes EV Cross-Country Road Trip, Bus&Motorcoach News | https://bit.ly/3KJpD2O

Morgan Truck Body New Partnerships, TPS | https://bit.ly/36nqRlE

Electric Delivery Vans Set to Take Off, Canary Media | https://bit.ly/3Iisnmi

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Proponents Offers a Path to Zero Emissions, FleetOwner | https://bit.ly/3wemEvk

Starbucks Wants to be the Gas Station of the Future for EVs, Fast Company | https://bit.ly/37CzQjt

Einride’s Introduces Its First Ever Remote Pod Operator, Electrek | https://bit.ly/3tgmEZN

Jetson ONE on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert | https://bit.ly/3tfxM9c