Mar 23, 2009 09:12 ET
Electric Vehicles International Builds Momentum for Its U.S. Launch as It Brings the Company’s “Road Ready” Commercial EV to California
Company states that even partial adoption of EVs and HEVs by
America’s fleets will significantly improve air quality, increase energy
independence and lower overall costs for fleet managers
LONG BEACH, Calif. --(Business Wire)-- Mar 23, 2009
Electric
Vehicles International (EVI), a leading manufacturer of commercial
electric vehicles, announced that it will be demonstrating its “Road
Ready” commercial vehicle at Faster
Freight – Cleaner Air (FFCA California), which is being
held this week at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, CA.
Having recently completed its launch into the U.S., EVI offers the first
pure electric and hybrid electric Class 3-6 commercial trucks available
in the U.S., which are in full compliance with stringent federal and
state regulatory requirements for their respective weight classes.
“We are very happy to bring EVI back to California, the state where EVI
was founded, and a state dedicated to clean transportation. Both the
popular and political support in California, specifically for
electrifying fleets, is a great model for the rest of the country,” said
Art Robins, Vice President of U.S. Operations for Electric Vehicles
International (EVI). “As an alternative to gasoline-centered
transportation, fleet managers who adopt EVs and HEVs will see immediate
results. For communities as well, the corollary effects of EV adoption
can improve the quality of people’s lives—in terms of cleaner air,
quieter streets and more freedom in energy decisions.”
The recently passed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
includes a number of financial incentives for EVs that can range from
$7,500 to $15,000 per vehicle. In addition, a number of other incentives
and subsidies are available in California including the following:
-
As funded by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and
administered by the California Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE),
up to $1.62 million will have been dispensed by March 31,
2009 for vehicle incentive rebates in the Alternative Fuel Vehicle
Incentive Program;
-
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) offers an EV
discount of $0.025/kWh for charging, and provides EV-infrastructure
services to help customers determine applications for EVs in fleet
operations, EV maintenance services and training.
As well, CARB recently passed a new regulation to reduce emissions from
existing on-road diesel vehicles operating in California, reducing
particulate matter, which is a toxic contaminant, by 80 percent in 2020
from 2000 levels; removing 124 tons per day of NOx, the major
contributor to smog, by 2014; preventing about 9,400 deaths; and saving
950,000 work loss days, as estimated by CARB.
Within this supportive political climate, EVs have become viable,
especially for short-range delivery or “back to base” vehicles. In
addition to the two commercial truck models, eviLightTruck and the
eviRoute 1500, that EVI manufactures, the company has developed a
cutting-edge drive train and offers engineering services including
conversions to HEVs. All of EVI's vehicles, which are presently
available to the U.S. market, are "Road Ready" Glider Chassis, are
assembled in the U.S. and have met all of the compliance requirements of
Title 49 of the DOT's CFR. EVI's motors and controllers are built in the
U.S. and the trucks’ patented lithium phosphate batteries are supplied
by Valence
Technology (NASDAQ: VLNC), an international manufacturer and
supplier of safe lithium phosphate energy storage solutions based in
Austin, TX. EVI can deliver their products within 60 days of their order.
In addition to being a sponsor at this year’s FFCA California, EVI is
exhibiting and offering demos at Booth #123. On Tuesday, March 24 at
1:30pm PT, EVI will hold a press conference in Conference Room 102BC,
which will be followed by a special “Ride and Drive” for members of the
media. The 3-day conference and expo is being held at the Long Beach
Convention Center adjacent to the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles to
showcase innovative programs, policies and technologies around the world
to improve efficiency and reduce air quality impacts of the goods
movement industry. As part of the company’s U.S. launch, EVI is
participating in several leading industry events including the recent
Work Truck Show in Chicago, IL and Mid-America Trucking Show in
Louisville, KY along with the upcoming Alternative Fuels & Vehicle
Conference in Lake Buena Vista, FL.
About Electric Vehicles International
EVI was started in California in 1989 through funding from the state
where the company began research and development in the field of
alternative energy transportation solutions. EVI is dedicated to making
EVs and HEVs viable now, which has lead to a doubling of their
production capabilities and the company’s recent expansions into the
U.S. market. EVI's U.S. operations, sales and marketing are based out of
Austin, TX, which will be responsible for all of the company’s products
in the U.S. and Canada. To find out more about EVs or HEVs or how to
convert your existing fleet, please contact EVI at info@evi-usa.com,
1-877-435-1999 or visit www.evi-usa.com.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=5923277&lang=en
EVI
Luka Keck, 512-445-9543
lkeck@evi-usa.com