Manufacturers, Fleets, & OEMs

 

Geely

 

Portland Dealer Becomes Oregon’s First Volvo, Mack-Certified EV Dealer —“A TEC Equipment outlet in Portland has become the first of Volvo Trucks North America’s heavy-truck dealerships in Oregon to be certified to sell and service regional Volvo VNR Electrics and Mack LR heavy electric refuse vehicles, VTNA announced in twin Jan. 31 releases on behalf of both nameplates. The certification shows that sales and service teams at the Portland dealership, which also is TEC’s corporate headquarters, have completed the training required to support customers with deploying Volvo VNR Electrics and Mack LR refuse models, according to Volvo and Mack. In July 2021, a TEC dealership in Fontana, California, became the first certified EV dealership, and 18 months later TEC’s outlet in Portland has become the 25th in North America. ‘TEC Equipment continues to be an excellent partner to Volvo Trucks in the introduction of electromobility solutions to heavy-duty fleets operating throughout the West Coast,’ VTNA President Peter Voorhoeve said. ‘We appreciate their ongoing leadership—from the deployment of the first Volvo VNR Electric in North America and the accomplishment of being the first Volvo Trucks Certified EV Dealership in the nation, to now supporting more than a dozen fleets in maintaining their Volvo VNR Electrics and certifying their fourth dealership location in a new state.’” [Fleet Owner, 2/2/23 (=)]

 

Honda Motor Corp.

 

Honda Reveals Hydrogen Strategy — “Honda has published its future strategy for hydrogen fuel cells, which primarily involves commercial and heavy-duty vehicles. The Japanese automaker envisages the further development of the FC system developed in collaboration with General Motors – targeting durability and radically reduced cost.” [Electrive, 2/2/23 (=)]

 

Mercedes-Benz AG

 

Freightliner's SuperTruck II Debuts Latest Efficiency Innovations — “Daimler Truck North America and its brand Freightliner debuted the SuperTruck II, a demonstrator heavy-duty truck designed to showcase innovative features that are poised to deliver the next level of freight efficiency. As part of the SuperTruck program co-funded by the U.S. Department of Energy with the aim to reduce emissions from on-road freight transportation, DTNA engineers were able to investigate next-generation technologies for heavy-duty commercial trucks and to clear the technical pathway for their development and potential integration into series production. Focus was on developing new technologies on the most promising core components and systems to improve the real-world operational efficiency. Areas for technology innovations that could potentially enter production for customers in the future were: enhanced tractor aerodynamics powertrain improvements low-rolling resistance tires energy management” [Heavy-Duty Trucking, 2/2/23 (=)]

 

Freightliner’s SuperTruck II Previews Diesel’s More Efficient Future — “Diesel might not be powering long-haul tractor-trailers decades from now. But the fuel will continue to be the primary energy source for over-the-road freight transportation for the rest of this decade. North America’s largest truck maker showed off ways that it plans to squeeze every ounce of efficiency out of a gallon of diesel over the coming years. With advanced aerodynamics, low-rolling resistance tires, powertrain improvements, and energy management with advanced technologies, Daimler Truck North America has built its most efficient diesel-powered truck in history. It can even roll down the highway without the engine running, thanks to its EcoSail system.” [Fleet Owner, 2/1/23 (=)]

 

Proterra

 

CA: Sonoma County Buys More Proterra Electric Buses — “Sonoma County in California announced the purchase of ten battery-electric buses by Proterra to replace ten compressed natural gas buses. The new buses shall arrive in the summer of 2024 and join six other all-electric buses expected to arrive in June.” [Electrive, 2/2/23 (=)]

 

Rivian Automotive Inc.

 

Rivian To Lay Off 6% Of Workforce In EV Maker’s Second Round Of Job Cuts — “Rivian Automotive Inc. RIVN 1.60%increase; green up pointing triangle plans to initiate another round of layoffs, the latest in the electric-vehicle startup’s efforts to preserve cash as it confronts challenges scaling its business. In a note to employees sent Wednesday, Chief Executive RJ Scaringe said Rivian plans to trim another 6% of its workforce, mirroring a cut of the same size made last summer in response to inflationary pressures and an uncertain economic climate. Mr. Scaringe said that the Irvine, Calif., auto maker needs to give priority to its path to profitability and production of its first models, as well as development of future offerings to expand its lineup, according to the email, which was viewed by The Wall Street Journal. He didn’t give an exact timeline of when the layoffs would occur, only that affected employees would receive an email from their managers. The company is planning an all-hands meeting for employees Friday to discuss the reductions, he said.” [The Wall Street Journal, 2/1/23 (=)]

 

Rivian Cuts 6% Of Workforce, Spares Blue Collar Workers — “Rivian Automotive Inc. is reducing its headcount by 6% in a cost-savings measure, but sparing assembly line workers at its sole operational plant in Normal, Illinois, from the cutbacks. The startup electric-vehicle maker is notifying staff impacted by the belt-tightening measure on Wednesday, according to a memo viewed by Bloomberg. It said the move targeted employees across the Irvine, California-based company, except for ‘manufacturing jobs in Normal.’ ‘To deliver over the long-term, we must focus our resources on ramp and our path to profitability while ensuring we have the right set of future products, services and technology,’ Chief Executive Officer RJ Scaringe wrote in the memo.” [Bloomberg, 2/2/23 (=)]

 

Rivian To Lay Off 6 Percent Of Staff To Cut Costs Amid EV Price War — “Rivian is laying off 6 percent of its employees in an attempt to cut costs amid dwindling cash reserves and a weakening economy – not to mention the industry-wide price war that has just begun. In an email to employees seen by Reuters, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe announced the job cuts, explaining that the company is focusing resources on ramping up vehicle production and becoming profitable.” [Inside EVs, 2/2/23 (=)]

 

Toyota Motor Corp.

 

Buyers Say Toyota Unit Can't Ditch Fake Emissions Data Suit — “Truck buyers told a Florida federal judge that Toyota unit Hino Motors Ltd. cannot dodge proposed class allegations that it illegally manipulated emissions and fuel-economy test results for vehicles sold in the U.S., saying the Sunshine State has jurisdiction over claims against the Japanese truck manufacturer. The buyers said in a Tuesday opposition brief that the Florida court has personal jurisdiction over Tokyo-based Hino Motors because the company conducted business in the state, and defrauded customers in Florida through American subsidiaries, such as Hino Motors Sales USA Inc., that it controls. ‘In short, Hino Japan is in control and calling the shots,’ the truck buyers said. Hino Motors, a unit of Japanese auto titan Toyota Motor Corp., admitted in March 2022 to falsifying emissions and fuel-economy data for thousands of trucks equipped with its medium- and heavy-duty engines dating back years. It stated that it also identified ‘potential issues regarding certification testing for the North American market,’ and was cooperating with a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into the matter.” [Law360, 2/1/23 (=)]

 

 

Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles

 

MHD Sales & Transition

 

Battery Electric Could Be 63% Of Refuse Truck Sales Come 2030: Report — “Incentives for fleet electrification, including those in 2022’s Inflation Reduction Act, could meaningfully encourage the adoption of heavy-duty electric vehicles — to the degree that battery electric vehicles could be 63% of refuse truck sales come 2030. That’s according to a white paper out Tuesday from the International Council on Clean Transportation and Energy Innovation that analyzes the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act on EV uptake in the U.S. That potential market share is among the largest for segments ICCT looked at, which included transit buses, school buses, delivery trucks and long-haul tractor trailers, said Ray Minjares, heavy-duty vehicles program director at ICCT. It would follow battery electric refuse trucks reaching cost parity with diesel refuse trucks as soon as 2026 and fuel-cell electric refuse trucks achieving diesel parity in 2033.” [Waste Dive, 2/1/23 (=)]

 

Collaborating For A Zero-Emission Future —“I talk a lot about the need for communication and collaboration in the trucking industry. As we move to a zero-emission future the need for communication and collaboration becomes even greater. Fleets are used to working with OEMs, component manufacturers, drivers, and technicians to achieve the best solution, whether that is to improve freight efficiency, productivity, or safety. But as we move forward into a zero-emission future, we need to expand the collaboration network. We are going to have to bring some new folks into the discussion if we want to make the transition as smooth as possible. One obvious group we need to include is utilities. Fleets looking to electrify need to engage with their local utilities early in the process to make sure the required power is at the site when the trucks arrive. But we need to keep in mind that some utilities don’t have a good understanding of how a fleet operates. We must be prepared to take on the role of educators to ensure they have a good handle on exactly what our power needs are. And we also have to remember that they are not familiar with terminology that we use; nor are we familiar with terminology they use. Terms like load and transmission are terms commonly used in both industries, but mean entirely different things!” [Fleet Owner, 2/1/23 (+)]

 

EU Not To Phase Out Combustion Trucks Before 2040 — “Trucks with combustion engines will still be able to be registered in the EU after 2035. A possible phase-out would take place in 2040 at the earliest, according to an internal Commission document on the revision of CO2 fleet limits for heavy-duty vehicles.” [Electrive, 2/2/23 (=)]

 

MHD Infrastructure

 

TotalEnergies & Air Liquide Join Forces On H2 Refuelling For Trucks — “In Europe, the energy group TotalEnergies and the hydrogen gas manufacturer Air Liquide have decided to set up a joint venture to build hydrogen refuelling stations for heavy-duty vehicles in France, Benelux and Germany. The corresponding joint venture is to be established before the end of 2023.” [Electrive, 2/2/23 (=)]

 

 

Advocacy

 

Greens Urge Truck Makers To Ditch Industry Coalition — “Dozens of environmental groups are pressing General Motors Corp. and other truck makers to leave an industry coalition that has opposed federal regulation of truck emissions, just weeks after Ford Motor Co. left the group. The Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association, or EMA, represents companies that make diesel engines and heavy-duty vehicles. It has pushed back against EPA regulation of truck exhaust and has sued California over its state standards for heavy trucks. Ford confirmed in mid-January that it had left the trade group, without making public its reasons (Climatewire, Jan. 18). The environmental groups delivered a letter to the heads of EMA’s other members, including GM CEO Mary Barra, asking them to leave the group. ‘We remain disturbed that EMA, in your name and with your money, is engaging in multi-faceted legal and political lobbying against rules that will save lives, prevent hospitalizations, and create billions of dollars in health benefits,’ the letter says. The campaign would weaken the trade group just as federal and state regulators are rolling out new standards for truck emissions. Some of the trade group’s members — including GM, Honda Motor Co. and Cummins Inc. — distanced themselves from the EMA lawsuit against California.” [E&E News, 2/2/23 (=)]

 

 

Opinion Pieces

 

Editorial: Joe Biden’s Big Oil Profits — “Behold the irony. President Biden has done more to enrich Big Oil and its shareholders than Donald Trump or any other White House occupant in decades. See how his Administration’s crusade to limit U.S. oil and gas production is reaping record profits for Exxon Mobil and other fossil-fuel giants. Exxon on Tuesday reported a record $55.7 billion annual profit last year, surpassing its $45 billion haul in 2008. This makes Exxon among the most profitable companies in American history. What a dramatic change of fortune. Two years ago, Exxon and other oil companies were bleeding cash as prices plunged early in the pandemic. Fossil-fuel opponents celebrated. But as economies recovered, so did oil demand. Long-haul trucks and airplanes can’t run on solar power or batteries. Global production lagged, however, especially in the U.S. Some Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries members curtailed investment during the pandemic because they didn’t expect demand to rebound as quickly as it did.” [The Wall Street Journal, 1/31/23 (-)]

 

 

 

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