Welcome New Members. Let’s Make an Impact Together.  

A warm welcome to new CALSTART member, Locus!  

 

NewsNotes 

Enso partners with i247 Group  

British tire manufacturer Enso has partnered with fleet solutions provider i247 Group to expand access to Enso’s EV-specific tires. The agreement enables the tires to be sold at several major retailers and provides mobile fitting services for fleet vehicles, increasing their accessibility and appeal for fleet owners. The only certified B Corp in the tire industry, Enso’s tires can extend EV range up to 10% and reduce particulate pollution by 35% compared to traditional tires. Coming off their recent strategic partnership with Uber, Enso is building their presence in the U.S. with plans for a carbon-neutral factory scheduled to open in 2027.  

 

RIZON Launches EV Dump Truck  

Earlier his week, medium-duty electric truck manufacturer RIZON (backed by Daimler) helped Canada deploy their first class 4 battery electric dump truck. The country has committed to a net-zero future by 2032, and Villamar Construction, based in Victoria, BC, is helping pave the way with their new RIZON. The manufacturer offers four models in Canada, each made with cold-weather performance in mind. A newer CALSTART member, RIZON has been garnering interest in the commercial truck market thanks to high-performing electric motors, high-speed charging capabilities, and a relatively low cost of ownership.  

 

GM Pilots Mobile Chargers Amidst Wildfire Crisis  

In the wake of wildfires racing across Southern California, GM has enacted several initiatives aimed at helping employees, customers, and communities affected by the fires. Starting February 1, GM will deploy mobile EV chargers across LA to support those who have lost access to charging infrastructure. The project features two additional CALSTART members: three liquid propane-powered chargers from Yoshi Mobility, and a mobile station from InCharge with five DC fast chargers. Along with charging support, GM is offering several financial and practical support programs for those impacted in SoCal.  

 

Hyundai and GM Consider Joining Forces  

Major OEMs Hyundai and GM are considering a partnership to re-badge Hyundai vehicles to supply to GM, in anticipation of slowing sales and potential policy changes in the U.S. Teaming up could be a way for both automakers to find success in an increasingly uncertain market. Not stopping at only one U.S. partner, Hyundai is also considering supplying their Ioniq 5 to robotaxi developer Waymo as they work on their autonomous technology offering.  

 

Turntide Technologies February 4th Webinar: Safer Battery Solutions  

New CALSTART member Turntide Technologies is holding a webinar on February 4th titled Safer Battery Solutions: How to Comply with New Regulations. This webinar will discuss new E.U. battery regulations on the horizon for vehicles and equipment. With these new regulations, designers and manufacturers have new challenges to solve including delivering safer battery solutions. These regulations are from the E.U. and include requirements around fire safety and thermal propagation, recycling, and battery passports. Register here! 

 

On the Road to Zero: Spotlight on Sucess | POLA and POLB 

The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and CALSTART, are leading a groundbreaking shift to zero-emissions drayage trucks. Through a $60 million joint fund, this partnership funded nearly 800 battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell trucks in its first year (November 2023 – October 2024), improving air quality and setting a national standard for port sustainability. Watch this 5-minute video to hear from port officials and fleet operators who are navigating and leveraging incentives to make zero-emissions trucking a reality.  

 

New Study Finds EVs Last as Long as ICE Vehicles  

Using nearly 300 million test records from the UK Ministry of Transport, researchers studied the “health” of vehicles on the road between 2005 and 2022 to estimate vehicle longevity and analyze the survival rate of different powertrains. While the study found early electric vehicles were less reliable than those with an internal combustion engine, newer EVs have achieved comparable lifespans thanks to technological advancements and investments in the industry. The study found that, on average, EVs have a lifespan of 18.4 years and can travel 124,000 miles, even surpassing some traditional cars in longevity. 

 

 

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• Enso partners with i247 to expand EV tire network, Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology International  

• RIZON | First medium duty electric dump truck gets to work in Canada, Electrek  

• GM deploys mobile EV charging units to aid LA wildfire recovery, CBT News  

• Hyundai Motor nears GM tie-up deal; sees revenue growth slowing in 2025, Reuters 

• Turntide Technologies webinar registration   

• On The Road to Zero: Spotlight on Success | POLA and POLB - YouTube 

• Electric vehicles now match traditional cars for longevity, study finds, TechExplore