Audio:  https://open.spotify.com/show/5tLFTApN7Rz6e9XryEaR77?si=bf7873cbe4854a5f   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/newze/id1797582892  https://sites.libsyn.com/563770    This week’s content: September 15th, 2025    Accelerating Fleet Electrification with Scale Microgrids   Scale Microgrids recently completed an on-site microgrid project for food service logistics provider Quality Custom Distribution (QCD) in La Puente, California. This first-of-its-kind microgrid will supply power to chargers for QCD’s new fleet of 30 Volvo VNR Electric delivery trucks as well as the facility’s refrigerated warehouse. The microgrid combines on-site solar, battery storage, and backup generation to reduce energy costs, guarantee fleet availability, and maximize the use of renewable energy. This project will enable QCD to accelerate the electrification of its fleet, reduce the facility’s carbon footprint, contribute to regional air quality goals, and meet the sustainability goals of a leading national coffee chain customer. Scale will own and operate the system under a microgrid service agreement (MSA), enabling QCD to save on electricity costs from day one.    Workhorse and Motiv Merger   Workhorse Group and Motiv Electric Trucks are in the process of merging to create a leading North American medium-duty electric truck OEM. Building on the companies’ complementary platforms, the combined business will be a leader in the $23 billion medium-duty truck market with a full range of Class 4-6 trucks. The companies believe that together, they will benefit from increased scale, an expanded product portfolio and enhanced operational efficiencies to support lower unit costs while optimizing total cost of ownership for customers. Under the terms of the merger agreement, following the completion of the all-stock transaction, Motiv’s controlling investor will become the majority owner of the combined company and Workhorse shareholders will maintain a significant equity stake.  The transaction is expected to close in Q4 of 2025.     Windrose and Xos Launch Mobile Charging Solution   Windrose, a manufacturer of long-range electric Class 8 trucks, has partnered with Xos to provide fleet customers access to the Xos Hub mobile charging solution. By pairing Windrose’s trucks with Xos’s mobile charging hardware, the partnership provides a turnkey ecosystem for electrified freight that fleets can implement immediately. The Hub is engineered to be deployed in a matter of hours, as it does not require trenching, switchgear, permits, or a direct utility interconnection. The unit features a 630 kilowatt-hour onboard battery and integrated DC fast chargers capable of delivering up to 150 kilowatts per port. This capability allows drivers to return mid-day, recharge their trucks quickly, and get back on the road for a second full shift.   Windrose manufactures one of the lightest Class 8 electric trucks in the world, setting a new industry benchmark with up to 420 miles of loaded range, a high-efficiency drivetrain, and a lightweight chassis. The truck is engineered for global deployment, pairing well with Xos’s cutting-edge mobile charging infrastructure. The result is a comprehensive solution that helps accelerate zero-emission freight adoption at an unprecedented pace, providing fleets with the technology and support needed for a seamless transition.    Bollinger Surpasses $1 Million is Sales   Midwest-based Bollinger Motors has announced the sale of 30 commercial EVs, totaling over $1 million in sales. Bollinger offers a robust portfolio of commercial electric vehicles designed for durability and versatility. The lineup features the Class 1 urban delivery EV cargo van (the ONE) and the Class 3 urban utility EV cab chassis truck (the THREE). Additionally, the Bollinger B4 chassis cab is an all-electric Class 4 commercial truck developed with extensive input from fleet and upfitter partners, making it ideal for a variety of urban applications. Purchased by a handful of companies including Ziegler Truck Group and Range Truck Group, the order consists of twenty Class 1 vans, six Class 3 trucks, and four B4 trucks. Two of the B4 trucks have been delivered and Bollinger expects to continue fulfilling the order through September.     Rivian Continues to Expand at Home and Abroad   Despite being founded just a decade and a half ago, Rivian has quickly become one of the leading OEMs in emobility. This ElectricDrives article gives a concise overview of the company’s history and plans for the future, which include a European expansion and consumer vehicles on the horizon. To learn more about their take on the state of EV incentives in California, check out this Politico feature with Hannah Steinweg, public policy and business development manager at Rivian.   Policy Spotlight   On July 29, 2025, EPA proposed rescinding the 2009 GHG Endangerment Finding—a key determination authorizing GHG regulations from vehicles and other sources—and GHG emissions standards for all vehicle classes. GHG vehicle standards are a critical regulatory tool that drives the adoption of new technology and keeps our automotive sector competitive with the rest of the world, rolling back this program is a huge mistake.  CALSTART, Ceres, the Climate Group, and the Environmental Defense Fund are inviting organizations to sign onto a joint business and investor letter urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) not to repeal the federal vehicle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards and the Endangerment Finding.  You’re running out of time to sign the letter and show your support to protect critical GHG emission standards for passenger and commercial vehicles.  Please review the letter and add your organization by Friday, September 19.        Podcast Listen: Exploring The Mobility House's Role in Transit Electrification  In a recent episode of the Transition to Zero podcast, host Jared Schnader interviews Sam Hill-Cristol from The Mobility House, a CALSTART member driving innovation in electric mobility and clean energy. Sam discusses how smart charging software integration is helping transit agencies optimize routes, manage costs, and collaborate more effectively with utilities.  Listen to the episode here!       ZESBI Website Debuts with Resources to Support School Bus Fleets  The ZESBI program, which combines school buses and charging infrastructure under a single incentive program, now has a dedicated website offering centralized support for California’s ZESBI applicants as well as other school bus fleets pursuing zero-emission goals. Visitors will find tools, updates, and guidance to help navigate the path toward zero-emission school bus adoption.  Visit: californiazesbi.org      Upcoming Events     Webinar: Inverter Selection and Integration  Join Turntide Technologies on September 25th for a webinar reviewing important considerations for inverter selection and integration, a key aspect of electric and hybrid systems. Live from the manufacturing floor, Chris Pearce, Director of Advanced Engineering Development for Turntide, will review how to select an inverter and some of the parameters needed to integrate and pair an inverter with a motor. Then Chris will take attendees on a Tech Tour of an inverter. Register here!    Upcoming Webinar: Innovative Workforce Solutions for Clean Transit Projects  CALSTART will host a webinar on October 2 focused on workforce development strategies to help transit agency teams succeed in the clean transit transition. The session will feature expert insights and real-world strategies for implementing innovative, holistic, and scalable training programs that help agencies maximize available funding and build a confident, multi-generational workforce.  Register here: https://tinyurl.com/3n74je72    Sustainable Scarborough Day   October 5, 2025 | Scarborough, Maine  The Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG) and CALSTART invite you to display your vehicles and represent your company at the third annual Sustainable Scarborough Day event on October 5, 2025. This event will gather a large audience including business owners, fleet owners and prospective buyers in the private sector. We encourage you to bring pickup trucks, sprinter vans, and other medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles.  Register here: https://driveelectricmonth.org/event.php?eventid=4940     Maine Municipal Association Conference  October 8-9 | Bangor, ME  GPCOG and CALSTART invite you to display your vehicles at the Maine Municipal Association Conference this October. This is the largest gathering of municipal staff in Maine, and will gather over 700 town managers, fleet directors, and municipal decision-makers from across the state. We encourage you to bring light-, medium-, and heavy-duty electric trucks, including/especially municipal use vehicles such as school buses, trash trucks, heavy-duty lawn mowers, etc.  Check out https://ebiz.memun.org/personifyebusiness/Workshops-Training/MMA-Training-Calendar/Meeting-Details/productId/8661863 for more information, or reach out to [email protected]!       Upcoming Webinar: Innovative Workforce Solutions for Clean Transit Projects  CALSTART will host a webinar on October 2 focused on workforce development strategies to help transit agency teams succeed in the clean transit transition. The session will feature expert insights and real-world strategies for implementing innovative, holistic, and scalable training programs that help agencies maximize available funding and build a confident, multi-generational workforce.  Register here: https://tinyurl.com/3n74je72          Accelerating Fleet Electrification with a Microgrid, Scale Microgrids https://www.scalemicrogrids.com/case-studies/quality-custom-distribution     Workhorse Group and Motiv Electric Trucks Executed Definitive Agreement to Combine, Creating a Leading Medium-Duty Electric Truck OEM in North America, Globe Newswire https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/08/15/3134252/0/en/Workhorse-Group-and-Motiv-Electric-Trucks-Executed-Definitive-Agreement-to-Combine-Creating-a-Leading-Medium-Duty-Electric-Truck-OEM-in-North-America.html?utm_source=fot.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=trucks-fot-augment-1t-valeo-momenta&_bhlid=e7ab26867d42a34acf3fd02afe7f7a24bb224470    Windrose and Xos Announce Fleet Charging Solution, The EV Report https://theevreport.com/windrose-and-xos-announce-fleet-charging-solution     Bollinger Motors Announces $1 Million EV Sales, The EV Report https://theevreport.com/bollinger-motors-announces-1-million-ev-sale     Navigating the Shift: A Rivian Perspective, Electric Drives https://electricdrives.tv/navigating-the-ev-shift-a-rivian-perspective/   Rivian is Looking to California for a Boost, Politico https://www.politico.com/newsletters/california-climate/2025/08/29/rivian-is-looking-to-california-for-a-boost-00537854      

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