NEWSNOTES | April 4, 2025
News Notes

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April is Drive Electric Earth Month, a national campaign to share information about electric vehicles organized by Plug In America, Electric Vehicle Association, Sierra Club, EVHybridNoire, and Drive Electric USA. Now in its 7th year, Drive Electric Earth Month features over 100 in-person and virtual events across the country aimed at boosting public understanding of the benefits of EVs. Check out the Drive Electric Earth Month website for more information and an event calendar.

Mark Your Calendar for the CALSTART Member Symposium, May 13-14th
CALSTART’s 2025 Member Symposium is moving to Seattle! Join us at the Washington Athletic Club May 13-14 to engage with CALSTART staff, our member companies, and our Board and Investment Council members. Through a happy hour, paneled sessions, and other networking opportunities, come learn about where the industry is heading from key stakeholders helping shape it.

Greenlane Infrastructure’s goal of building out public charging stations for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles will now be bolstered by Volvo Trucks North America. Through the new partnership, Greenlane is Volvo’s first official Charge Point Operator on the continent. Under the Volvo Open Charge network, fleets will be able to access Greenlane’s public charging solutions without needing to build out their own infrastructure. Later this month Greenlane is opening their flagship charging location in Colton, California, featuring over 40 public chargers spanning all vehicle classes. Plans are underway for further charging sites along the I-15 corridor, with upcoming sites in Long Beach, Barstow, and Baker, CA.
Anyone interested in attending the grand opening of the Colton Greenlane Center can find more information in the Upcoming Events section below.

Illinois could become the first state in the Midwest to adopt California’s Advanced Clean Truck Standards to spur adoption of zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles. Adopting the Advanced Clean Truck regulation would require manufacturers to ensure 40-75% of heavy-duty vehicle sales are zero-emission by 2035, with the exact percentage dependent on vehicle type. Trisha DelloIacono, the head of policy at CALSTART, has said, “If Illinois adopts [the program], we could expect to see new truck charging stations pop up at rest stops along major freight corridors... This in turn would make it easier for fleet operators in nearby states to start adopting zero-emission trucks for regional-haul and long-haul routes.”

If you enjoy a canned or bottled beverage in New York City, there’s a chance it was brought to you using alternative fuels. Not only is Manhattan Beer & Beverage Distributors the largest single-market beer distributor in the country, they’re also a leader in reducing fleet emissions. They adopted their first CNG-powered truck back in 2002 and were operating over 100 CNG trucks by the mid 2010s, making them the first company in the northeast to convert its diesel trucks to CNG. In 2021, Manhattan Beer was also the first company on the East Coast to implement Volvo’s heavy-duty VNR trucks into their fleet and has since adopted charging management software by bp pulse to further optimize performance. Manhattan Beer’s continued success is a promising reminder that companies don’t need to sacrifice sustainable operations for business growth, but rather, the two can go hand in hand.

Last month, CALSTART held its Focus Group and Facility Tour at the Larson Transportation Institute's Bus Research and Testing Center, located in State College, Pennsylvania. CALSTART would like to thank all attendees for engaging in important conversations that help shape the future of clean transportation. We would also like to extend our gratitude to the Larson Transportation Institute for hosting, as well as Center for Transportation and the Environment, Auburn University, The Ohio State University, and Optimal EV for their participation and collaboration.

Zeroing in on ZEBs: Behind the Scenes in Latest Transition to Zero Episode
Podcast host and CALSTART transit expert Jared Schnader discussed our annual Zeroing in on Zero-Emission Buses report with authors Mike Hynes and Kaila Lemons. Their conversation covered key findings and regional trends as well as the methodology behind this leading transit industry report.
Catch up on the highlights and tune into the podcast for an in-depth discussion about the report findings: https://bit.ly/4jcWw9d

The Current State of HD BEV: Technologies and Capabilities – Webinar hosted by NACFE
Virtual
April 8th, 1:00-2:00pm EST
While battery electric vehicles have maintained popularity among light- and medium-duty vehicles, larger questions exist around the viability of battery electric trucks for heavy-duty, long-haul applications. In this session, experts will review the market availability of long-haul-specific operations. Featuring speakers from CALSTART, Tesla, Windrose EV Trucks, and Volvo Trucks North America. Register Here

Latino Chambers of Seattle and Tacoma 2025 Spring Gala
Seattle REP | 155 Mercer St, Seattle, WA 98109
April 12th, 5:30-9:30pm PST
Step into a night of magic, color, and celebration at the Latino Chambers of Seattle and Tacoma 2025 Spring Gala. We invite you to embrace the vibrant energy of spring and the festive spirit of Carnaval for an unforgettable evening filled with culture, music, and connection. More details and registration available here.

Colton Greenlane Center Grand Opening
1650 East Fairway Drive, Colton, CA 92324
April 24th, 10:00am-11:00am PST
Join us as we celebrate the ribbon cutting of Greenlane’s first charging site in Colton, CA! The Colton Greenlane Center will feature 40+ high-powered chargers and a spacious amenities lounge designed to support commercial zero-emission vehicles. As a key location along our I-15 charging corridor, this site plays a crucial role in enabling clean transportation from Long Beach to Las Vegas. Don't miss this opportunity to tour the site, connect with industry experts and city officials, and experience our cutting-edge chargers firsthand! Light refreshments will be served starting at 9:30 AM. We look forward to celebrating with you! Register Here

The Evolution of Axial Flux Motor Technology – Webinar hosted by Turntide Technologies
Virtual
May 6th, 9:00-10:00am CST
Think axial flux motors require one-off manufacturing and are too pricey to apply? The evolution of axial flux motor technology rewrites this narrative. Join this webinar, featuring a live demo, to learn more about how these motors can evolve your electric or hybrid system for any vehicle or equipment, decrease your total cost of ownership, and provide high torque and power. Register Here

You’re invited to the Smart & Sustainable Mobility Showcase in Philadelphia, PA on May 13, the PANYNJ Fleet Sustainability Expo in Newark, NJ on May 14, and the NYC DCAS 36th Annual Equipment & Vehicle Show in New York, NY on May 15! 20 Québec-based companies will display their vehicles, technology, and equipment alongside SEPTA, the City of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Department of Aviation, PANYNJ, MTA, NJ Transit, NYC DCAS. Roundtables and breakout session themes include green campuses, future rail propulsions, company pitch sessions, fleet across cities, alternative fuels, fire safety for EVs, and microgrids & mobile charging.  

• Smart & Sustainable Mobility Showcase with SEPTA & the City of Philadelphia – May 13th, Philadelphia, PA. Register here!  
• Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Fleet Sustainability Expo – May 14th, Newark, NJ. Register here!  
• NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services 36th Annual Equipment & Vehicle Show – May 15th, New York, NY. Register here!

RESOURCES

• Drive Electric Earth Month website
• Greenlane and Volvo Partner to Drive Commercial Electrification, Greenlane
• The Bid to Make Illinois a Leader on Electric Trucking, Canary Media
• Electrifying New York Heavy Duty Trucking: Lessons Learned with Manhattan Beer Distributors, Trucking Dive