NEWSNOTES | September 20, 2023
News Notes

CALSTART’s Niki Okuk is a former small fleet manager who parlayed that experience into now overseeing the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) HVIP program for electric truck vouchers. Her focus is on the Innovative Small E-Fleet pilot (ISEF), which offers funding for fleets with 20 or fewer trucks and less than $15 million in revenue which accounts for 80-90% of fleets in California. Freightwaves explains how small fleets can sign on with a startup like WattEV, Zeem Solutions or Forum Mobility and take advantage of a Trucking as a Service (TaaS) contract.

HDT shines a spotlight on CALSTART’s commercial EV charging infrastructure report that offers a phase-in strategy that includes a focus on priority launch areas, cost-effective implementation, and a clear vision. The report includes a 6-step national scale charging infrastructure strategy.

Hyundai Motor Group and Georgia Tech have entered a partnership aimed at applying hydrogen technology into electric vehicles (EVs). The two signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate in researching sustainable mobility with an emphasis on a hydrogen economy.

Phoenix Motorcars has received a contract for ten all electric, zero-emission Type-A school buses. Ten Phoenix Z-600 buses will be deployed in the District of Columbia next year. The vehicles can be charged in less than two hours and will lower fuel costs by 80%. Austin, Texas is where New Flyer will be sending 26 more electric buses. The buses will run on four new lines in Austin as part of the Capital Metro Transportation Authorities aim to improve public transportation in Central Texas and realize emissions reduction benefits as well.

Oracle and Uber have entered a partnership designed to enhance and enrich last mile on demand delivery. Oracle and its retail platform bring an understanding of processes to the table while Uber knows delivery. Customers in the US and Canada will have same-day and scheduled delivery options, order pickup, and returns to the closest retail or postal location.

EO Charging is a UK-based company that provides charging solutions for companies like Amazon, DHL and UPS and they are now expanding in the U.S. The EV Report interviewed CEO Charlie Jardine who talks about the state of the EV market today as well as the challenges and opportunities tied to EV charging. To accelerate their US presence, John Walsh was just hired as the chief commercial officer (CCO) of EO Charging’s Americas business. Walsh has more than three decades of experience in the transportation industry.

Note to CALSTART members-if you are in the market for a chance to meet fellow members while sharpening your awareness of what’s going on in the industry, you are invited to two upcoming opportunities. The first is a member reception during the Move America 2023 event in Austin, TX. It is hosted by Navistar and takes place in five days! Members can sign up here. And the week of October 16, Workhorse and CALSTART invite members to a reception in Dayton, Ohio, and a Forum at the Workhorse manufacturing facility in Union City, Indiana.  Members may sign up here.

RESOURCES

California Doubles Electric Truck Rebates for Small Fleets, FreightWaves | https://tinyurl.com/3ydycx9r

CALSTART Roadmap Would Speed Commercial EV Infrastructure, HDT | https://tinyurl.com/edsm89wx

Hyundai to Partner with Georgia Tech, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution | https://tinyurl.com/3ujdf7ds

Phoenix Motorcars Receives Order for 10 Buses from DC, School Transportation News | https://tinyurl.com/2p863xhe

New Flyer to Deliver 26 More Electric Buses to Texas, electrive | https://tinyurl.com/26ecxd2e

Uber, Oracle Team Up to Offer Last Mile Delivery, FreightWaves | https://tinyurl.com/yc5b3vuh

Electrifying the Fleet, The EV Report | https://tinyurl.com/3pdp5ffx

EO Charging Names John Walsh CCO, Metro | https://tinyurl.com/2k2apef5

CALSTART Member Reception at Move America 2023 | https://tinyurl.com/ympy7a6r

Charge into the Future Forum, Workhorse & CALSTART | https://tinyurl.com/yscx4pv3