US e-bus builder Proterra and British bus and coach manufacturer Alexander Dennis (ADI) are collaborating to produce an electric double-decker bus for California’s Foothill Transit. The new e-bus will enter service in 2019. Foothill Transit already has several Proterra buses in service, and plans to completely electrify its fleet by 2030. Alexander Dennis has been… Read more »
Search Results Found For: "electrify america"
Ford to offer hybrid versions of most of its SUVs
Ford wants us to know it hasn’t given up on hybrids and EVs, even though it hasn’t updated its existing plug-in models since 2013. That was the message from several company execs at a recent press event in Dearborn. Ford will introduce hybrid versions of five of its SUV models by 2020, and produce seven… Read more »
Former EPA official: US automakers’ EV strategies are irrational
These days, not a week goes by without an announcement of some major electrification initiative from a major carmaker: Nissan’s new LEAF is coming to the US soon, GM is actually advertising its Bolt EV, VW and Daimler have each announced a range of new EVs (for China, at least), and Volvo and Jaguar have… Read more »
New report: EVs promise a more resilient grid and a more democratic energy system
We read a lot about the performance and environmental advantages of EVs, but there’s another benefit of electrification that’s less often discussed: increasing grid resilience and “energy democracy.” The advantages of a more distributed electrical grid are especially relevant in light of the massive power outages caused by the recent hurricanes. A new report from… Read more »
Workhorse CEO on the company’s new plug-in hybrid pickup truck and its expansive plans for the future
We all acknowledge the absurdity of ignoring an elephant, when one is present in the very room in which important matters are being discussed, but what about a hulking, jacked-up, V8-powered monster truck? Tesla permanently changed the conversation about EVs when it electrified a sporty two-seater, a luxury sedan and a crossover SUV, but few… Read more »
New Eagle teams up with Inventev to offer electric Ford Transit vans
The business case for electrifying commercial vans would seem to be a no-brainer – the savings on fuel and maintenance are substantial and demonstrable. In the real world however, pilot projects are plentiful, but substantial orders have been slow to materialize. More than one promising startup has gone under while waiting for fleet customers to… Read more »
60-foot articulated electric bus hits the streets of Southern California
The Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA), which serves half a million residents of northern Los Angeles County, has taken delivery of a BYD 60-foot articulated electric bus. AVTA has ordered thirteen of the 60-foot e-buses, part of its campaign to fully electrify its fleet by 2018. BYD is building the buses at its factory in… Read more »
Trucking industry skeptical but wary about Tesla semi plans
Long-haul trucks are going to be a tough nut for EVs to crack, but it’s never smart to bet against Tesla. That’s the one-sentence summary of the trucking industry’s reaction to Tesla’s recent announcement that it will unveil an electric semi-truck in September. The challenges involved in electrifying big rigs are huge. The battery for… Read more »
Proterra to deliver 10 Catalyst e-buses to shuttle service in downtown Chicago
Property management giant JLL (NYSE:JLL) plans to lease 10 Proterra Catalyst electric buses to provide commuter shuttle services between Chicago’s commuter train stations and two of the city’s tallest buildings, the Prudential Plaza and Aon Center. The electric shuttle fleet, which is funded in part by Drive Clean Chicago, will begin service in December. “Increasingly,… Read more »
Torque Trends offers plug-and-play electrification for fleet conversions
Startup companies often evolve as they grow, and sometimes they stumble on a new application for a prosaic product that leads to a new way of doing things, with the huge opportunities that implies. For Mitchell Yow, the CEO of Torque Trends, the journey started with a gearbox, and has led to a complete electrification… Read more »