NEWSNOTES | March 14, 2025
News Notes

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Zenob, a leading owner and operator of battery storage in the UK, has launched Europe’s largest battery storage site at Blackhillock, Scotland. Phase 1 of the project is now operational, comprising 200MW, and an additional 100MW will come in 2026. The combined 300MW/600MWh is over 30% of installed battery storage capacity in Scotland to date. Strategically located to mitigate grid congestion from nearby wind farms, the new storage site will save consumers an estimated £170 million over the next 15 years and help avoid 2.6 million tons of CO? emissions. Europe’s new largest battery will also provide Stability Services to its network operator, increasing security and reliability. To learn more about Zenob?’s work, check out details of their upcoming webinar with CALSTART, located in the “Upcoming Events” section below.

Electric terminal truck manufacturer Orange EV has announced a new 7.5-year/30,000 hour warranty on their batteries, powertrains, and electric components. The prolonged coverage is unmatched in the industry, where typical warranties are 1-2 years or 6,000 hours. Orange EV’s class 8 trucks have been in use since 2015 across much of the US, Canada, and the Caribbean, with deliveries to more than 300 fleets and over 20 million miles of service. This experience backs up the confidence of offering such an extended warranty, increasing reliability and cost savings for fleets. The warranty is also transferrable, easing worries about resale value.

Medium-duty EV focused Harbinger Motors is using in-house tech to deliver trucks at diesel-like prices, and has launched the IRA Risk-Free Guarantee to keep prices as low as possible for customers. The IRA’s 45W Commercial Clean Vehicle Credit gives up to $40,000 per EV for fleets, but with the ongoing uncertainty around federal funding programs, Harbinger is guaranteeing a discount similar to the tax credit. How it works: customers will receive a credit at purchase, and if the IRA tax credit stays active for 2025, they will pay Harbinger in a later second payment. If the credit is canceled, Harbinger will cancel the second payment, ensuring customers pay the discounted price no matter what. Harbinger’s electric chassis is built for medium-duty applications like vans, box trucks, RVs, and emergency vehicles, and increasing cost parity can make the technology an attractive alternative to diesel for fleets.

Greenlane is making major strides in advancing public charging for commercial medium- and heavy-duty fleets, opening their flagship EV charging truck stop in Colton, California next month. The site will include over 40 chargers, a mix of pull-through 400 kW dual-port and 180kW chargers. Greenlane plans to deploy solar panels and battery storage systems during a later development phase. In anticipation of the flagship truck stop opening, Greenlane also just unveiled a branded digital technology suite aimed at addressing fleet manager and driver pain points. Along with a new website, Greenlane is introducing an app for drivers to check charger availability and reserve spots, a portal for fleet managers and dispatchers to better plan and manage routes, and an Application Programming Interface (API) to enhance fleet management data.

CALSTART’s latest research is live! Our new Zeroing in on Zero-Emission Buses report shows that transit agencies continue to adopt zero-emission buses across the U.S.—despite industry headwinds. Updated annually, Zeroing in on Zero-Emission Buses (ZEBs) provides the number of funded, ordered, delivered, and/or deployed transit ZEBs within the United States. These vehicles offer lifecycle cost savings for transit agencies while providing cleaner air for the communities they serve—and this series is the definitive resource for those seeking up-to-date counts of both full-size and small transit ZEBs adopted across the country.    

Dive deeper into our full report
 

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