NEWSNOTES | May 9, 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!

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With political headwinds fueling uncertainty across the industry, we’re happy to celebrate the opening of two all-electric charging depots in Southern California. Last month Terrawatt Infrastructure opened a facility in Rancho Dominguez, 12 miles north of the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. With 7 megawatts and 20 fast-charging stalls, 125 trucks per day can charge right by the busiest seaport complex in the country. Greenlane Infrastructure also just opened a facility in Colton, about 60 miles east of LA, with over 10 megawatts of charging capacity. More details about the opening of Greenlane’s site are in the story below! These new electric truck stops represent the next phase of electrification in California, one that serves longer-haul applications. They’ll support more routes each day from SoCal’s crowded ports to distribution warehouses further inland, where drivers can get a “top-off” charge multiple times per day.

Greenlane Infrastructure celebrated the grand opening of its first public charging site on April 24th! It was a monumental day, with over 200 attendees, including state and local government officials, industry leaders, and representatives from across the zero-emission transportation ecosystem. The event showcased 17 zero-emission trucks, buses, and vans, underscoring the momentum behind the commercial EV movement and Greenlane’s role in driving it forward. The facility was completed just 8 months after breaking ground, thanks to effective collaboration between public and private sector partners. Along with 41 OEM-agnostic chargers, the depot has a spacious lounge with food and beverage options, free Wi-Fi, and round-the-clock on-site attendants. There’s also the option to lease office space and parking, offering fleets a safe and convenient place to work and park overnight. Greenlane also secured their first commercial fleet customer: Nevoya, the first zero-emissions electric trucking carrier and technology-driven logistics platform in the U.S. Nevoya will begin operating a fleet of electric trucks out of the site, leveraging the charging infrastructure and on-site office space. The Colton facility is the first of several locations to make up the I-15 commercial EV charging corridor, with plans to open sites every 60-90 miles in Long Beach, Barstow, and Baker.

Blue Bird, a well-known school bus manufacturer and one of the largest electric school bus makers, has introduced an all-electric medium duty Class 5-6 truck chassis. While they’re not the only manufacturer to recently launch a step van, they’ve been building their own chassis since 1952 and might be able to leverage this experience against other competitors. The vehicles have a 140kWh battery good for “up to 130 miles” and quick charge capabilities. Blue Bird plans to start shipping vans in the first quarter of 2026.

Windrose Technology, the Belgian developer of zero-emission long-haul trucks, has launched the first-ever all-electric long-haul sleeper truck in the United States. The truck boasts a whopping 420-mile range and will be operated by JoyRide Logistics, a Phoenix-based carrier. The initial rollout begins in Arizona, California, and Nevada, and is made possible by a partnership with EO Charging. The Windrose sleeper recently completed a 2,800-mile cross-country trip using only public charging stations, proving its range, reliability, and charging compatibility. JoyRide is already running the sleeper trucks in its operations and has nationwide expansion in their sight.

Range Energy is teaming up with Thermo King and ESL Power Systems to bring its transformative technology to refrigerated trailer units. Range’s product adds a battery and electric motor e-axle to a semi-truck trailer, allowing fleets to electrify without needing to buy new vehicles. While not a fully electric solution, the tech can reduce fuel usage substantially and add enhanced capabilities like trailer control and regenerative braking. While Range is still in the early stages of production, they’re now targeting opportunities to reduce emissions in refrigerated freight. Refrigerated units typically run on an additional small diesel engine, and Range’s trailer offers a big enough battery to eliminate this. The 288kWh battery is purportedly enough energy to keep the trailer box cold for a full day while unplugged from shore power, even in hot temperatures. They’ve already trailed the Thermo King partnership and will be trailing the ESL partnership soon. Range is expecting their first customer deliveries at either the end of this year or early next year.

Follow the Funds Part I: Meet the Air Districts
Webinar Series
May 15 | 10 AM PT
Looking For Funding to Electrify Your Fleet? Follow the Funds with us and explore the numerous incentive programs offered throughout California to help fleets adopt zero-emission vehicles and infrastructure. Join us for this webinar series to learn how you can take advantage of these opportunities and drive your fleet towards a more sustainable future!  Register Here!

Massachusetts: Join us on May 20 for an Electric Truck Event!
Mass Fleet Advisor is hosting a FREE informational event on May 20 in Natick, MA. Attendees will have the opportunity to see and ride in electric trucks; meet electric truck owners and operators; and learn about the FREE electrification guidance provided by Mass Fleet Advisor, which is funded by the MassCEC.  Register Here!

Join us on June 18 for the Zero-Emissions Showcase + Ride & Drive!
Mark your calendar for an unparalleled opportunity to experience the future of clean transportation technology. Our Zero-Emissions Showcase + Ride & Drive on June 18 brings together industry leaders, manufacturers, and policymakers committed to creating a sustainable future. The event is in Anaheim, CA! Our past Ride & Drive events have featured over 70 class 2b-8 trucks, buses, vans, and off-road equipment — offering you the chance to test drive and explore cutting-edge zero-emissions technology firsthand.  Register Here!

Join Us in June at the Transit Retreat in Des Moines, June 25-26
Next month, CALSTART joins transit leaders from across the country for a retreat-style event centered on innovation, implementation, and open dialogue. Don’t miss sessions exploring how the clean transit landscape is evolving as well as strategic insights and practical implementation best practices. Join Us There! 

RESOURCES

• New Charging Depots Help SoCal’s Electric Trucks Go Further, Canary Media
• Greenlane Opens Flagship Charging Hub in SoCal, Advancing Zero-Emission Freight on I-15, Greenlane Infrastructure
• Blue Bird Diversifies from School Buses, Enters Electric Medium Duty Truck Market, Electrek
• Windrose Launches First All-Electric Long-Haul Sleeper Truck in U.S. Partnering with JoyRide Logistics and EO Charging to Deliver TCO Parity for Shippers, EO Charging
• Range Energy Announces Two Partners to Electrify Refrigerated Trailers, Electrek