NEWSNOTES | January 18, 2023
News Notes

Port demand for electric trucks is high and Forum Mobility, an electric truck startup, has raised $15 million in Series A funding in addition to $400 million in infrastructure buildout funding. Included in the funding is a significant investment from Amazon Climate Pledge Fund. Forum Mobility, an electric-trucking-as-a-service startup will build charging depots and make electric trucks available to freight haulers serving California’s busiest ports.  Not surprisingly, they are also hiring and you can learn more here.

Allison Transmission fairly recently unveiled its state-of-the-art Vehicle Electrification and Environmental Test Center (VE+ET) and Nikola is impressed with their ability to simulate real world applications and climate conditions at the facility in Indianapolis. Nikola is testing its Class 8 battery-electric vehicle (BEV) and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) at the VE+ET. The Allison facility allows OEMs to reduce product development and validation timelines to bring products to market more quickly.

Walmart is growing their fleet of delivery vehicles by purchasing 4,500 all-electric vans from startup Canoo. Walmart will use the vehicles to deliver online orders while noting that EVs cut delivery costs because there is no fuel cost. Amazon and charging station company EVgo are partnering through an app-based partnership that links the company with Amazon’s Alexa voice controls. Drivers will ask Alexa to help find EV charging stations and initiate and pay for charging at EVgo stations.

Proterra, a commercial vehicle electrification technology innovator, has produced its first Powered EV battery at its Powered 1 battery manufacturing plant in Greer, South Carolina. The facility has also started production of drivetrains and other ancillary systems. Proterra expects to deliver its powered battery systems to its customers in the first quarter of this year.

The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) has ordered 14 zero-emission, battery-electric Xcelsior CHARGE NG 40-foot heavy-duty transit buses from New Flyer. The manufacturer has delivered 186 transit buses to COTA since 2001 and they are helping COTA transition to a zero carbon future.

Event season is upon us again and leaders from Clean Cities Coalitions across the country as well as their industry partners will descend on Washington, D.C. for the 17^th annual Energy Independence Summit. The Summit includes engaging with leaders from federal agencies and representatives from House and Senate offices with a  focus on clean transportation. You can sign up for it here.

The March rite of passage, also known as the Green Truck Summit/Work Truck Show takes place the week of March 7-10.  CALSTART members, once again, are encouraged to join us for our member only reception on the evening of March 6. There is no charge for this great networking event and members can sign up here.

RESOURCES 

Ports Need Electric Trucks and Forum Mobility Has a Solution, Canary Media | https://bit.ly/3D0Dv7p

Nikola & Allison Collaborate on Electric Semi, Clean Technica | https://bit.ly/3kkGJMB

Walmart Pivots to EVs, TC | https://bit.ly/3iQfbhN

EVgo Hooks Up with Alexa, CleanTechnica | https://bit.ly/3WnaxW2

Proterra Rolls Out First EV Battery on the East Coast, electrek | https://bit.ly/3XCcnUb

COTA Orders 14 New Flyer Zero-Emission Buses, Metro Magazine | https://bit.ly/3CTv2ms

Energy Independence Summit, Transportation Energy Partners | https://bit.ly/3HbNFVc

CALSTART Member Reception at Work Truck Week, CALSTART | https://bit.ly/3WkkYd2