Rivian

Truck Talk: Electrification education edition

This week, NACFE’s Mike Roeth talks about what’s different in the newest Run on Less demonstration, and we learn, after some digging, how Kenworth adopted the tagline “World’s Best Trucks.” 

Electric Avenue

Mike Roeth has made a name for himself as executive director of the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE). Sure, NACFE is known for its Confidence Reports on efficiency technologies. But every two years, just about everybody pays attention when Roeth’s nonprofit organizes and...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/truck-talk-electrification-education-edition

A San Francisco treat: Amazon testing electric Rivian vans

Amazon testing Rivian electric vans in San Francisco

Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) has added a second location for testing of the Rivian all-electric delivery van, the company announced Thursday. The e-commerce giant has started delivering packages from the vans in San Francisco, joining Los Angeles as a test location for the vehicle.

“From what we’ve seen, this is one of the fastest modern commercial electrification programs, and we’re incredibly proud of that. As we continue to grow and invest in California, we want to do so responsibly, so we’re...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/a-san-francisco-treat-amazon-testing-electric-rivian-vans

Transmission: Seat shortage bigger problem than chip constraint

Here’s what’s cookin’ today in Transmission:

  • Winter Storm Uri causes seat shortage
  • The future of EVs: Solid-state batteries
  • Industry news

Winter Storm Uri causes seat shortage

The United States’ infrastructure was put to the test recently when Winter Storm Uri passed through the lower half of the country. Millions of people in Texas were without power for days as the state struggled with the low temperatures. Natural gas production dropped significantly and chip production with it. Petrochemical...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/transmission-seat-shortage-bigger-problem-than-chip-constraint

Electrifying the nation’s last-mile fleet requires some heavy lifting

Jeff Bezos has become the king of e-commerce, with Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) accounting for anywhere from 35% to 48% of online sales, depending on the source of the information. Moving all those packages results in a significant environmental impact, although Bezos believes e-commerce is actually more environmentally friendly than in-store shopping.

“Amazon’s sustainability scientists have spent more than three years developing the models, tools, and metrics to measure our carbon footprint,” Bezos...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/electrifying-the-nations-last-mile-fleet-requires-some-heavy-lifting

The Daily Dash: Heartland kicks off earnings season; court sides with FMCSA over California

The Daily Dash is a quick look at what is happening in the freight ecosystem. In today’s edition, Heartland Express has kicked off the Q4 earnings season, posting an improvement in operating income. Plus, an appeals court said California can’t supersede FMCSA regulations on hours of service, and Daseke’s board chairman talks the future of the company.

Earnings season kicks off

The first truckload carrier to announce Q4 earnings reported a slight year-over-year decline in revenue but improvement...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/the-daily-dash-heartland-kicks-off-earnings-season-court-sides-with-fmcsa-over-california

GM reveals electric delivery van with connected pallets

General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) flung itself into the battery-electric commercial delivery and freight-tech businesses Tuesday, revealing an electric-powered cargo van and a connected pallet system for getting goods from the vehicle to customers’ doorsteps.

The automaker had hinted it was working on a battery-powered electric van. CEO Mary Barra announced the creation of a startup, BrightDrop, during a digital keynote address for CES 2021. BrightDrop joins GM Defense and two recent OnStar spinoffs...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/gm-reveals-electric-delivery-van-with-connected-pallets

Workhorse gets big electric truck order, but can it deliver?

Workhorse Group Inc. (NASDAQ: WKHS) booked its largest order of electric last-mile delivery vans to date. But the order is contingent on Workhorse being able to fulfill it.

Pride Group Enterprises, which operates 17 retail and rental truck locations in the U.S. and Canada, ordered 6,320 vans for delivery between this July and 2026 — five times the backlog Workhorse has for its C-650 and C-1000 battery-powered composite-body vans.

Slowed by a COVID outbreak at its factory in Union City, Indiana,...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/workhorse-gets-its-biggest-electric-truck-order-but-can-it-deliver

U.K. electric vehicle startup Arrival picks N.C. for North American base

London-based electric delivery van and bus startup Arrival will base its North American headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina. It’s about a half-hour north of its planned microfactory and close to major customer United Parcel Service.

UPS (NYSE: UPS) and Arrival co-developed the purpose-built electric vehicles. The initial order of 10,000 vehicles will be rolled out through 2024. UPS has an option to order 10,000 more. 

Arrival joins a crowded last-mile electric delivery truck segment where Am...

https://www.freightwaves.com/charlotte-close-to-planned-microfactory-and-major-customer-ups

Lordstown Motors SPAC vote set amid unique business risks

Shareholders of a blank check company vote Oct. 22 on completing a reverse merger that would provide startup Lordstown Motors Corp. (LMC) twice as much money as it needs to retool a former General Motors plant to build a commercial fleet-focused electric pickup truck.

Diamond Peak Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: DPHC) raised $780 million in an initial public offering (IPO) and through the sale of discounted shares. The full amount will transfer to LMC if the vote passes as expected. 

Since the proposed...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/lordstown-motors-spac-vote-set-amid-business-risks

The Daily Dash: Groups sue to stop HOS changes; Convoy looks to replace the RFP process

The Daily Dash is a quick look at what is happening in the freight ecosystem. In today’s edition, several safety groups have sued the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration hoping to stop upcoming changes to the hours-of-service rules. Plus, Convoy seeks to eliminate the request-for-proposal process, FreightWaves announces enhancements to SONAR and a Stanford dropout reimagines loading docks.

HOS changes in question

Changes to the hours-of-service rule set to go into effect on Sept. 29 are...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/the-daily-dash-groups-sue-to-stop-hos-changes-convoy-looks-to-replace-the-rfp-process

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