NEWSNOTES | February 22, 2023
News Notes

Republic Services is expanding its electric truck fleet in partnership with Oshkosh Corporation, a truck manufacturer based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Republic, which has the fifth largest vocational fleet with 17,000 trucks, will begin operating two electric recycling and waste truck prototypes this fall. In other expansion news, Loomis has ordered 150 armored electric vehicles (EV). The vehicles will be supplied by Xos which is a provider of Class 5-8 battery-electric vehicles. Xos CEO Dakota Semler points out that their vehicles demonstrate their ability to perform in high-security, cash in transit operations.

Uber Freight and WattEV are working together on an electric truck pilot program with an aim of advancing zero-emission freight transportation. The companies will deploy electric trucks on select routes starting in Southern California and with plans to expand nationwide. WattEV is developing a nationwide network of heavy-duty electric charging.

Nikola is innovating, too, having just announced an advanced driver-assist system on its electric heavy trucks that will start in 2024.Their system is similar to hands-free highway driving systems offered by Tesla, General motors and Ford Motor.

Loveland, Colorado-based Lightning eMotors has been certified by the buy America program making its products eligible for federal grants. Lightning’s Class 3 passenger van can accommodate up to 10 passengers and a wheelchair. Fleet customers can apply for Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grants for low-and no-emission vehicles. Cummins is also taking advantage of Biden Administration funding as they look at plans for Zero-Emission vehicle charging stations. The company is looking at developing battery charging and hydrogen (H2) fueling stations along the I80 Midwest Corridor.

The EV battery race is on and General Motors (GM) has signed a deal with Lithium Americas to get lithium sourced from the U.S. GM is putting a $650 million equity investment into the lithium firm. The companies estimate that 1,000 construction jobs and 500 operational positions will be created by this new Lithium Americas.

All these EV batteries will need to be recycled somehow and Li-Cycle has been up to the task for some time. The Canadian based company shines the spotlight on its Rochester, NY flagship facility next Monday which includes featured guests Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and Congressman Joseph Morelle. Li-Cycle recently posted a new video showing progress at the Rochester Hub. Ohio-based Cirba Solutions is another growing battery recycler, operating two facilities in Lancaster. One of them Is for processing lead- and nickel-based batteries and the other is for lithium-ion batteries. Canary Media says the global demand for lithium-ion batteries could increase over 500% this decade.

“The Pathway to Fleet Electrification” is the topic of a CALSTART webinar being held tomorrow. The focus is on fleets and will include a look at lessons learned from early adopters like UPS and PepsiCo/Frito-Lay and offer information about a free Sustainable Fleets program available to companies operating in California. Register here.

 One final note, CALSTART members who’ve not yet registered for the March 6 reception in Indianapolis in advance of NTEA’s Work Truck Week, here’s the registration link. Additionally, and courtesy of NTEA, we can give a promo code to any member who would like access to the NTEA trade show floor, ride and drive, and one concurrent session. Reply to this and I’ll send it to you.

RESOURCES

Republic Services Rolls Out Electric, Recycling Waste Truck Fleet, Recycling Today | https://bit.ly/3Kuki2G

Loomis Expands Fleet with 150 XOS Vehicles, The EV Report | https://bit.ly/41ssd6G

Uber Freight Declares ‘electric trucks are finally here,’ electrek | https://bit.ly/3IKFwYI  

Nikola Will Offer a Hands-Free Driving System, CNBC | https://cnb.cx/3EvV7sN 

Lightning eMotors Capitalizes on Truck Incentives, Transport Topics | https://bit.ly/3KpZER1

Plan for ZE Vehicle Charging Stations Pick up Speed, 3BLCSR Wire | https://bit.ly/3YP8lsw

Lithium Americas Goes into Production in 2023, MarketBeat | https://bit.ly/3KrOETc

Li-Cycle to Host Event to Announce Significant News, Bakersfield.com| https://bit.ly/3kjobNc

Cirba Solutions Planning Huge Expansion, Canary Media | https://bit.ly/3IKN8dB

The Pathway to Fleet Electrification, CALSTART | https://bit.ly/3KuyMiQ