NEWSNOTES | May 2, 2025
News Notes

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. Register Here! 

Listen on the Go! News Notes in Audio
Prefer to listen instead of read? Tune into the audio version of this newsletter for all the latest updates, insights, and stories - wherever you are. Hit play and stay informed.

Fleet electrification and battery storage specialist Zenob? is providing 7Gen, a Canadian startup, CA$48 million in debt financing to scale operations. This marks the largest private EV debt financing in Canada and demonstrates Zenob?’s confidence in commercial EVs as an asset class. 7Gen is a leading Canadian EV and charging infrastructure leasing company, helping commercial fleets integrate zero-emission solutions as a viable alternative to internal combustion engines. 7Gen will use the funds to finance 400-500 new commercial EVs bundled with charging solutions, while refinancing a portion of its current fleet. Founded in 2017, Zenob? has helped transform the public transport sector by introducing large-scale fleet electrification backed by innovative debt financing and residual value data. They provide end-to-end fleet electrification solutions to public and commercial fleet operators, including the provision and financing of vehicles, charging infrastructure, and a battery managed service. Headquartered in the UK, Zenob? supports thousands of EVs across the US, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK.
Check out NewZE, the audio version of NewsNotes, to hear directly from folks at Zenob? on this announcement and other projects they’re working on!

Fontaine Modification is leading a consortium of companies to develop a Class 6 fuel cell electric truck for “middle mile” delivery logistics. Fontaine is responsible for assembling the fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) on a straight truck chassis at its flagship center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Fontaine’s Director of Sales and Business Development, David Brosky, says they’re on track to complete a pilot unit this summer. The unit will then undergo independent track testing before heading to a large commercial fleet for a trial period on regular routes. The middle mile segment can run across distances of 300-500 miles, making a fuel-cell system a better zero-emission option compared to battery electric.

Earlier this week Isuzu announced their first electric pickup truck, the D-MAX EV, has entered mass production, with the first units shipped to Europe in the third quarter of 2025. By the end of the year, production will begin for UK models with sales starting next year. Isuzu says the new EV pickup will “match the performance of existing diesel models” with high towing capacity and payload. Its dual-motor powertrain allows it to match the performance of the D-MAX diesel model, which is already sold in over 100 countries.

The State of California has awarded $500 million to school districts and other educational agencies to buy zero-emission school buses and chargers. Administered by CALSTART, the Zero-Emission School Bus Incentive (ZESBI) program — a collaboration between the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the California Energy Commission (CEC) — will help deliver 1,000 electric school buses and support charging infrastructure statewide.

We’re excited to share the latest on HVIP's impact on sustainable transportation. Voucher redemptions have surged 177% from 2023 to 2024, with early 2025 data showing even more zero-emission vehicles hitting the roads as fleet electrification accelerates across the state.
February 2025 Highlights:

• More than 200 zero-emission trucks and buses deployed in a single month
• Over $31 million in redeemed vouchers
• Record-breaking participation from public agencies and small businesses

• 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