NEWSNOTES | November 28, 2022
News Notes

CALSTART’s leadership was on display at COP27 as the initiator of a global Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that the U.S. has signed and committed to. The MOU commits the U.S. to a goal of 100% zero-emission truck and bus sales by 2040, with an interim goal of 30% new sales by 2030. CALSTART initiated the global MOU at COP 26 in 2021.

Helping the U.S. meet that goal is the California Air Resources Board which has approved a $2.6 billion dollar investment to support the transition to zero-emission transportation. The spending focus is targeting underserved communities including low-income areas and those disproportionately burdened by environmental pollution. More than 70% of the funds will benefit the priority populations. $2.2 billion will be allocated for clean trucks, buses, and off-road equipment.

Phoenix Motorcars and Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) are forming a long-term partnership for the co-development of batteries for Phoenix Motorcars product lines which includes commercial products (shuttle buses, school buses, municipal transit vehicles and delivery trucks), EV chargers and electric forklifts. U.S. based Rivian has arrived in Canada where they will be selling their all-electric R1T pickup and R1S SUV across the country by the end of next year. Rivian has over 150 employees in the Vancouver area.

Several CALSTART members have made announcements at the Los Angeles Auto Show 2022. The U.S. Subscription Service Autonomy has substantially increased its order from the Vietnamese manufacturer VinFast which is now commissioned to deliver more EVs to Autonomy than Volkswagen. In August Autonomy ordered 400 vehicles and now they are commissioning VinFast for more than 2,500 EVs. Hyundai Mobis (the parts and service arm for Hyundai Motor Company) has announced an EV powertrain plant near the Georgia coast. The company plans to build a manufacturing facility adding 1,500 more jobs to the state.

Kudos to Revel for securing $50 million in debt financing from Blackrock Alternatives. The Brooklyn-based startup is going to expand its network of high-volume, public EV fast charging Superhubs. They will site the new Level 3 charging stations in dense U.S. urban areas.

U.S. Hybrid, a subsidiary of Ideanomics, has joined a consortium led by A-1 Alternative Fuel Systems to develop hydrogen fuel cell electric shuttle buses. With funding from Southern California Gas Company and the South Coast Air Quality Management District, the partners will develop the fuel cell electric bus built on the Ford E-450 Chassis and a low-floor bus built on the Ford F-53 chassis.

There’s nothing better than transit agencies that incorporate community art into their offerings at their facilities. CALSTART member Houston Metro has worked with artists in Houston to create more than a dozen new murals that were painted at four transit-oriented locations. The art is designed to engage communities and it is reminiscent of the neighborhoods they are showcased in.

Ready or not, tomorrow is Thanksgiving and why not prepare yourself by coming equipped with some handy conversation starters? Canary Media is here to help having put together a list that will appeal to clean-energy nerds everywhere. The prompts range from “gas buildup” to “SPACs gone slack.” Good luck!

RESOURCES

US Signs Global Commitment to 100% Zero-Emission Trucks, Buses, EDF | https://bit.ly/3AFY8ok

CARB Approves $2.6B for Clean Cars, Trucks and Mobility Options, Green Car Congress | https://bit.ly/3tSdm5M

Phoenix Motorcars & CATL Form Partnership, Business Wire | https://bwnews.pr/3Ez8Cqy

Rivian Begins Deliveries of EVs in British Columbia, Driving | https://bit.ly/3TVCALe

Autonomy Orders 2500 VinFast EVs, Auto Rental News | https://bit.ly/3Ou9Xnl

Hyundai Mobis Announces EV Powertrain Plant in Georgia, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution | https://bit.ly/3OudLoC

Revel Receives $50 Million for Fast Charging Network, ChargedEVs | https://bit.ly/3VhY2vz

Ideanomics Fuel Cell Electric Buses, NGT News | https://bit.ly/3EpNKSI

Houston Metro Art in Transit Program, Mass Transit | https://bit.ly/3tSFs0X

Thanksgiving Conversation Starters for Clean-Energy Nerds, Canary | https://bit.ly/3OuLT3A