ROUSH CleanTech provides Class 6 electric trucks to Penske


ROUSH CleanTech, a provider of alternative fuel and electric propulsion technology for fleet vehicles, has inked a deal with Penske Truck Leasing to provide battery-electric vehicles based on the Ford F-650 for deployment across Southern California.  The new EVs, which were built to Penske’s specifications, have a maximum speed of 65 mph and a 100-mile… Read more »

Almost 80% of European EV sales have been in the six wealthiest countries


The European Association of Automobile Manufacturers (ACEA) has published an interactive map that illustrates the correlation between the adoption of plug-in vehicles (which the organization, apparently feeling that the industry needs yet more acronyms, refers to as “electrically-chargeable vehicles,” or ECVs) and per-capita GDP. The ACEA reports that plug-in vehicles accounted for 3.0% of all… Read more »

Hyundai announces 12 new SUVs—one of them may be an EV


Like most of the legacy automakers, Hyundai has been eagerly announcing plans to consider possibly selling some EVs in volume some time in the next decade or two, while continuing to devote the bulk of its resources to ever-larger gas-powered SUVs. In August, the company launched a new brand called Ioniq, which will, in the… Read more »

Truck leasing firm orders 150 Tesla Semi electric trucks


Tesla is using the same reservation system for the Tesla Semi as it has used for its previous vehicles. By requiring a cash deposit with each pre-order, the company is able to bring in some cash before it even begins production. It’s a model that other automakers can only envy (and it does benefit customers… Read more »

Jouley electric school buses arrive in Virginia as part of a V2G pilot


Bus operator Sonny Merryman, utility Dominion Energy, bus builder Thomas Built Buses and heavy-duty powertrain specialist Proterra recently hosted a celebration near Lynchburg, Virginia to officially introduce the Jouley electric school bus to public school officials from across the state. At the presentation ceremony, riders were pleasantly surprised by the silence that replaced the noise… Read more »

Fiat Chrysler CEO talks about electric pickup


Fiat Chrysler has long been a favorite whipping boy for EV journalists. Of the US Big Three, it’s been the proudest defender of the gas-powered status quo, joining GM in the fight against US emissions standards, and agreeing to pay Tesla hundreds of millions of euros in order to avoid producing EVs in Europe. However,… Read more »

Formula E makes strategic investment in Extreme E off-road racing series


Formula E is an all-electric FIA racing championship featuring races in iconic international city centers. Soon, another very different class of electric racing will make its debut: Extreme E is a rough-and-tumble off-road rally that will showcase the abilities of electric SUVs against the backdrop of remote ecosystems. Both organizations share the goal of highlighting… Read more »

Consumer Reports: Popular EV models cost less to own than comparable legacy vehicles


Surprise, surprise! An analysis by Consumer Reports has confirmed what EV boosters have been saying for a few years now: opting for a plug-in vehicle will save you thousands of dollars compared to owning a gas-powered vehicle. Savings on fuel and maintenance more than offset the higher purchase prices of EVs and PHEVs over the… Read more »

Scottish startup offers electric coach service between Edinburgh and Dundee


Travelers have a new option for the 90-minute journey between Edinburgh and Dundee in Scotland. A new service called Ember is operating electric coaches as an alternative to existing diesel-powered bus and rail links between the cities. Founders Keith Bradbury and Pierce Glennie chose the historic port city of Dundee, Scotland’s fourth-largest, because of the… Read more »

Blue Bird’s electric school buses now have V2G capability


Since it introduced electric school buses in 2018, the iconic yellow bus manufacturer Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD), has seen a surge in demand. The majority of its e-buses have been sold in California, but they have been deployed all over the US. “With districts able to obtain grants and other financial assistance, [some] locations that… Read more »