NEWSNOTES | September 14, 2022
News Notes

From beginning to end the news today all intersects with the pathway to zero-emission transportation. Up first is the Port of Long Beach which showcased several industry leaders yesterday including 4 Gen Logistics, a port drayage company, that is purchasing 41 Volvo and 20 Kenworth electric heavy-duty trucks with plans to be a zero emissions fleet. CALSTART was there along with the South Coast Air Management District (SCAQMD) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to celebrate the plans.

Volvo Trucks has had a big week as they announce that its 44-ton electric trucks are heading to the production line. The company now has six heavy-duty EV models, the largest in the industry. And Ideanomics along with its subsidiary US Hybrid are providing Global Environmental Products (GEP) with its propulsion kits to be used in the construction of sixty-two zero-emission street sweepers.

Kudos to Michigan-based Shyft Group for their 2,000-unit pre-order of its new line of electric Class 3, 4, and 5 walk-in delivery vans. They are taking customer pre-orders this month and are targeting mid-2023 as the delivery timeframe. Shyft Group will present their Blue Arc vans and its Power Cube portable charging at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this week. Lightning eMotors has announced its second-generation repower program that allows fleets to convert their buses to all-electric. Fleets that adopt the Lightning technology qualify for the same federal and state funding as those who purchase new electric buses.

Terawatt Infrastructure finances, develops, owns, and operates EV charging assets that will be rolled out for cars and trucks across the U.S. The company got a huge boost yesterday when they got news of a $1B investment for EV charging buildout. Terawatt has purchased real estate in strategic areas like along highways and will soon announce an ambitious charging project for long-haul transportation. Everyone knows how critical charging is, including Ford CEO Jim Farley who wants Ford dealers to become the most valuable franchise in the industry. He is asking the close to 3,000 dealers to invest upward of $1 million for upgrades to sell all EVs.

There’s a lot going on in the clean transportation space these days including IAA Transportation in Hanover, Germany where Ballard will be sharing its unique fuel cell experience as part of the tradeshow. Ballard’s fuel cell solution powers more than 3,600 buses and trucks globally.

Today, President Joe Biden is at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit today where he’s expected to talk about electric vehicle manufacturing investments. The Auto Show takes place next week, too, when DTE is hosting CALSTART Executive-level members for our first in person Leadership Circle since the pandemic began.

Also, during this busy fall season, world leaders will gather in Pittsburgh as a part of the Global Clean Energy Action Forum, taking place on next week. The Forum is a joint convening of the 13^th Clean Energy Ministerial and the 7^th Innovation ministerial. There are several events focused on the role of zero-emission trucks and buses in addressing the climate crisis.

RESOURCES 

Port of Long Beach’s Path to Zero, AJOT | https://bit.ly/3eJ21Rb

Volvo Trucks Ramps Production of Electric Trucks, electrek | https://bit.ly/3RYsMPU

Ideanomics, Global Environmental Products make Electric Sweepers, NGT News | https://bit.ly/3djVBaN

Shyft Group Secures First Pre-Orders for EV Vans, MiBiz | https://bit.ly/3RLUzmU

Lightning eMotors Helping Fleets Access Funding for their Repowered Buses, electrek | https://bit.ly/3LbV5by

Ex-Googler’s TeraWatt Raises $1B for EV Charging, TechCrunch | https://tcrn.ch/3eMax1S

Ford Focus on Dealers, CNBC| https://cnb.cx/3dleaeG

Ballard Previews Fuel Cell Concept at IAA 2022, Ballard | https://bit.ly/3qCZquT

Biden to Announce EV Charging Investments at Detroit Auto Show, CNN | https://cnn.it/3S1wubr

CALSTART and Drive to Zero, CALSTART | https://bit.ly/3d9ppqN