NEWSNOTES | January 30, 2025
News Notes

A warm welcome to new CALSTART member, Locus

Enjoy this week's recording of NewZE, an in depth audio format of our weekly NewsNotes. We've made it easier than ever to stay informed while on the go.

British tire manufacturer Enso has partnered with fleet solutions provider i247 Group to expand access to Enso’s EV-specific tires. The agreement enables the tires to be sold at several major retailers and provides mobile fitting services for fleet vehicles, increasing their accessibility and appeal for fleet owners. The only certified B Corp in the tire industry, Enso’s tires can extend EV range up to 10% and reduce particulate pollution by 35% compared to traditional tires. Coming off their recent strategic partnership with Uber, Enso is building their presence in the U.S. with plans for a carbon-neutral factory scheduled to open in 2027.  

Earlier his week, medium-duty electric truck manufacturer RIZON (backed by Daimler) helped Canada deploy their first class 4 battery electric dump truck. The country has committed to a net-zero future by 2032, and Villamar Construction, based in Victoria, BC, is helping pave the way with their new RIZON. The manufacturer offers four models in Canada, each made with cold-weather performance in mind. A newer CALSTART member, RIZON has been garnering interest in the commercial truck market thanks to high-performing electric motors, high-speed charging capabilities, and a relatively low cost of ownership.  

In the wake of wildfires racing across Southern California, GM has enacted several initiatives aimed at helping employees, customers, and communities affected by the fires. Starting February 1, GM will deploy mobile EV chargers across LA to support those who have lost access to charging infrastructure. The project features two additional CALSTART members: three liquid propane-powered chargers from Yoshi Mobility, and a mobile station from InCharge with five DC fast chargers. Along with charging support, GM is offering several financial and practical support programs for those impacted in SoCal.  

Major OEMs Hyundai and GM are considering a partnership to re-badge Hyundai vehicles to supply to GM, in anticipation of slowing sales and potential policy changes in the U.S. Teaming up could be a way for both automakers to find success in an increasingly uncertain market. Not stopping at only one U.S. partner, Hyundai is also considering supplying its Ioniq 5 to robotaxi developer Waymo as they work on their autonomous technology offering.  

The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and CALSTART, are leading a groundbreaking shift to zero-emissions drayage trucks. Through a $60 million joint fund, this partnership funded nearly 800 battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell trucks in its first year (November 2023 – October 2024), improving air quality and setting a national standard for port sustainability. 

Using nearly 300 million test records from the UK Ministry of Transport, researchers studied the “health” of vehicles on the road between 2005 and 2022 to estimate vehicle longevity and analyze the survival rate of different powertrains. While the study found early electric vehicles were less reliable than those with an internal combustion engine, newer EVs have achieved comparable lifespans thanks to technological advancements and investments in the industry. The study found that, on average, EVs have a lifespan of 18.4 years and can travel 124,000 miles, even surpassing some traditional cars in longevity. 

Despite executive orders adding uncertainty to last year’s industry-shaping funding awards, the progress and momentum generated for zero-emission freight will persist. How do we further accelerate the market for ZETs through 2025 and beyond?  
In CALSTART’s new blog post, Jacob Richard, author of the latest Zeroing in on Zero-Emission Trucks market update, breaks down the top priority actions to address adoption barriers and ensure ZETs are affordable for all fleets.
 

RESOURCES

• Enso partners with i247 to expand EV tire network, Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology International  
• Electric vehicles now match traditional cars for longevity, study finds, TechExplore  
• On The Road to Zero: Spotlight on Success | POLA and POLB - YouTube 
• Turntide Technologies webinar registration   
• Hyundai Motor nears GM tie-up deal; sees revenue growth slowing in 2025, Reuters 
• GM deploys mobile EV charging units to aid LA wildfire recovery, CBT News  
• RIZON | First medium duty electric dump truck gets to work in Canada, Electrek 
• Accelerating the Shift: How to Carry Momentum for Zero-Emission Trucks Into 2025