NEWSNOTES | May 4, 2022
News Notes

NEWSNOTES | May 4, 2022

Wednesday, May 4, 2022 / Kimberly Taylor

The Biden administration announced on Monday a $3.1 billion plan to boost domestic manufacturing of batteries to shift the country toward electric vehicles. The funds will go toward building, retooling, or expanding manufacturing of batteries and battery components. CALSTART member Piedmont Lithium, a leading, diversified developer of lithium resources required to enable the U.S. EV supply chain, has announced that their partner, Sayona Mining Limited, has reported the discovery of a new southern lithium pegmatite zone in Quebec. Piedmont is Sayona’s largest shareholder.

Fast Company is out with twenty-eight transportation innovations included in their World Changing Ideas Awards and three CALSTART members have risen to the top. I have mentioned them before but CLIP BIKE is a portable propulsion device designed to transform any bike into an e-bike, instantly. $499 later you have an e-bike and the CLIP fits in your backpack. Electreon also made the list for the world’s first wireless electric road charging an e-bus and an e-truck in Gotland Sweden. An earlier NewsNotes featured Electreon which was chosen by the Michigan Department of Transportation to build an electric road system in Detroit. The transportation awards winner is Ford for their F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck which can power a home for 10 days.

CALSTART’s Northeast office wants to hear from you as they are looking for prospective employer partners for a new workforce development program focused on workforce needs related to transportation electrification. If you are in the greater NYC metropolitan area and are interested, all you have to do to be considered for inclusion is fill out this survey.

The Central Ohio Transit Authority (aka COTA) has placed an order for eight battery-electric buses from New Flyer and it includes four ABB depot chargers to support the deployment. COTA provides public transit in the greater Columbus and Central Ohio region. Exro Technologies has signed a multi-year agreement with Vicinity Motor Corporation to supply coil drivers to enhance electric bus powertrains. Over the three-year term of the agreement, Exro plans to deliver 2,500 units that include both a coil driver and an electric motor.

Congratulations to Symbio, Faurecia and Michelin, the recipients of a $2 million California Energy Commission (CEC) award to design and demonstrate a Class 8 fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) in a regional haul application. The goal of the Symbio H2 Central Valley Express project is to prove that hydrogen mobility can match a 15L diesel truck’s performance.

Popion Mobility is an energy platform company with a mission to propel the EV truck and bus fleet industries with a battery-swapping charging solution. Earlier this week Popion was selected to introduce its solution at “ChangeNow” in Paris, France.

Much of the clean transportation industry is gearing up for CALSTART member GNA’s ACT Expo next week in Long Beach, California. CALSTART will be there as NAVISTAR takes center stage as the host of our member reception where Navistar’s CEO and President Mathias Carlbaum will welcome our member companies. The member reception is at capacity but those interested in attending GNA’s ACT Expo can register here.

Until soon,

Kimberly

Biden Administration Invests $3 Billion in Lithium-Ion Battery Production, CNN

https://cnn.it/3yidfnt

Piedmont Lithium’s Partner Strikes Shallow Lithium, Proactive

https://bit.ly/3MVm62J

28 Transportation Innovations that Could Change How We Move, Fast Company

https://bit.ly/3vHrlgv

NYC Workforce Development Opportunity, CALSTART

https://bit.ly/3ycf8C8

Ohio Transit Authority Orders Eight NFI Electric Buses, NGT News

https://bit.ly/3KFl893