Morgan Olson and Motiv Power Systems Partner on All-Electric Delivery Trucks
Ford F59 Chassis Used for the Zero-Emission Route Star Walk-In Van on Display at the Work Truck Show, March 1-4, booth #5667
FOSTER CITY, Calif. and STURGIS, Mich. — The award-winning and extremely versatile all-electric powertrain supplier for trucks and buses and North America’s leading manufacturer of walk-in vans announced today a partnership to put more all-electric delivery trucks on America’s roads. Motiv Power Systems and Morgan Olson are collaborating to provide an all-electric option for Morgan Olson’s popular “Route Star” walk-in van, built on the Ford F59 chassis. Both companies will be exhibiting at The Work Truck Show in Indianapolis, March 1-4. An F59 chassis equipped with a Motiv all-electric powertrain will be on display in booth #5667.
“We are thrilled to be working with Motiv and utilizing their all-electric powertrain technology,” said Rich Tremmel, Morgan Olson’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “Many fleet managers are exploring alternative fuel solutions and finding electric to be ideal in many delivery applications. We want Morgan Olson to be the body company of choice for these new technologies.”
The new all-electric option of the Route Star walk-in van features up to 20 percent gradeability, 85 miles of range and a 50 percent battery charge time of 2.5 hours. The design of Morgan Olson’s walk-in van bodies demonstrate a 50 percent faster delivery time over conventional delivery trucks.
The first all-electric walk-in van was recently delivered to AmeriPride Services‘ Vernon, Calif. facility. Within the next year, this facility will be utilizing the all-electric Route Star walk-in van as part of a pilot program to convert 20 percent of its fleet to zero-emission all-electric trucks. AmeriPride is one of the leading textile rental services and supply company in North America.
“It’s exciting to see leaders like Morgan Olson and AmeriPride embracing all-electric trucks in a significant way,” said Jim Castelaz, CEO of Motiv Power Systems. “Delivery trucks are central to America’s economic health and by powering them with a Motiv all-electric powertrain, fleets gain some stability in their operating budgets, independence from fossil fuels and reduction of diesel particulate pollution in the communities they serve – a powerful triple benefit.”
In addition to the F59 chassis, Motiv has upfit packages available for the Ford E450 and Crane Carrier Class 8 chassis. Configurations include all the components required to transform a chassis to zero-emission all-electric drive and are professionally installed to OEM standards at the time of the vehicle’s manufacture.
The Motiv All-Electric Powertrain was named one of Popular Science’s Best of What’s New technologies and has been successfully used in school buses, shuttle buses, delivery trucks, maintenance trucks and North America’s only all-electric refuse truck in the City of Chicago.
About Morgan Olson
Morgan Olson is North America’s leading producer of Walk-In vans and dry freight delivery vehicle bodies. Over the years many successful industry leading companies have chosen Morgan Olson to provide innovative delivery vehicles to get their product to their customers, on-time, every time. Today, Morgan Olson continues its tradition as the leading walk-in van body manufacturer in North America. Morgan Olson’s portfolio of customers serves a multitude of industries and delivery applications. From baking and snack foods to newspaper, textile rental, vending and parcel delivery, the industry choice of commercial truck bodies is clear…Morgan Olson quality. Morgan Olson works closely with various alternative fuel chassis manufacturers. From electric, CNG, Propane, battery-electric and hydraulic hybrid propulsion systems, Morgan Olson has built bodies on all relevant and viable alternative fuel chassis.
About Motiv Power Systems
Founded in 2009 and based in Foster City, CA, the award-winning Motiv Power Systems designs and builds flexible and scalable All-Electric Powertrains for commercial medium and heavy-duty trucks and buses. Motiv partners with existing truck builders who manufacture electric versions of their traditional fossil-fueled vehicles on their current assembly lines using the Motiv All-Electric Powertrain. Common vehicle types from these builders include work, delivery and refuse trucks, as well as school and shuttle buses. The Motiv All-Electric Powertrain is installed at the time of vehicle manufacture, similar to a natural gas or propane upfit. In 2014, Motiv All-Electric Powertrain was named one of Popular Science’s Best of What’s New technologies. For more information and career opportunities, please visit www.motivps.com and follow us on Twitter @motivps, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
