About California HVIP

The Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Project (HVIP) makes clean vehicles more affordable for fleet operators through point-of-purchase price reductions. HVIP vouchers can be considered a type of “coupon” that fleet operators use at the time of placing their purchase order.

 

Who can use the funds?

Any private or public fleet operator with medium to heavy-duty vehicles operating in California. HVIP-awarded vehicles must remain in California for the next three years. Any fleet size is eligible. No vehicle scrapping necessary.

 

How does HVIP work?

Fleet operators should connect with their dealers today to get started on the voucher application process. If you don’t have a dealer, we can connect you with one in your area.  Contact us to get started.

$82.5M will be available at 10 am PDT on June 8, with the second half becoming available at 10 am PDT on August 10. Funding will be dispersed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Fleets can receive up to $85,000 per all electric truck or bus, plus an additional 10% for vehicles located in disadvantaged communities.

A valid and signed Purchase Order (or other binding Agreement, Contract, Buyer’s Order, or action/resolution by a government entity’s governing body) is required to place the voucher request.

 

I’m a fleet operator – what do I need to do?

Contact your dealer today to begin the voucher application process. If you don’t have a dealer, contact us and we can help assist you.

 

I’m a dealer – what do I need to do?

You are our HVIP champions! Dealers are responsible for completing voucher requests and coordinating with fleet operators (purchasers) and manufacturers/suppliers.

Training is required to become a 2021 HVIP approved dealer. New dealers must complete HVIP Dealer Training and current HVIP approved dealers must complete the HVIP Required Refresher. If you need help getting started, please contact us.

 

Is HVIP stackable with other funding?

Yes, depending on your fleet location. We can help you find and apply for stackable incentives.

 

I have questions about charging infrastructure. Is there funding?

Yes, infrastructure funding is available. We can help you find and apply for infrastructure incentives.

 

We don’t have any infrastructure at all, where do we begin?

Motiv provides a complete energy solution, including electrification beyond vehicles. Our team can assist with charge stations, turnkey installation, unified data and cloud management, and Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) credits, helping you build the depot of the future.

 

Have more questions about available funding
and upgrading your fleet to all-electric?

Driven by progress in the passenger car segment, the tipping point for electrification across the entire vehicle market is here. The market is gaining momentum as fleets look to reduce costs, meet new regulations, and address social pressures for cleaner transportation options.

Because fleet electrification is more involved than just purchasing an electric vehicle (EV), we have taken over 10 years of experience and compiled a summary of the 8 key considerations when evaluating commercial medium-duty EVs for your fleet.

 

1. Routes and Usage Patterns

Medium-duty EVs are ideal for fleets with fixed daily routes such as those serviced by shuttle buses, delivery trucks, and school buses. A set number of miles per route removes ambiguity and provides clarity on what kind of battery capacity is needed – one of the most important aspects of designing the right type of vehicle for the job. EV technology is new for medium-duty fleet professionals, and gaining basic knowledge of key terminology will help ensure scoping of the correct battery size after the route and usage patterns are evaluated.

The vehicle’s battery pack efficiency is commonly expressed as kWh/mile (comparable to the unit measure of “miles per gallon” on internal combustion vehicles), or the amount of energy (in kilowatt-hours, or kWh) it takes to drive each mile. Be careful, though, as the real-world kWh/mile may vary dramatically from what some manufacturers report in ideal test-case scenarios. Sometimes the nameplate, or “nominal”, battery energy and the usable battery energy will vary as many battery packs cannot be discharged fully to 0% and drivers will want to return with some nonzero residual energy in their battery pack at the end of the day.

Ask your vehicle manufacturer to provide examples of use cases as a starting point for your own procurement as well as data supporting the real-world range actually achieved by fleets running routes similar to yours. During the initial evaluation stage, Motiv provides recommendations on battery capacity size for your fleet based on your specific needs.

 

2. Return on Investment

Operating and maintenance (O&M) cost savings and warranty provisions are two of the biggest determinants of EV return on investment (ROI). One of the reasons fleets have adopted EV technology is for total cost of operations (TCO) savings, including O&M savings that help speed up the project’s ROI. Based on learnings from Motiv’s deployments, fleet customers can expect to see up to 85% O&M savings over internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Check out our calculator to understand your potential savings (you’ll need basic fuel and maintenance costs for your current vehicles).

 

Ask about warranties to understand what exactly is covered and for how long. Battery warranties are frequently cited separately from the vehicle and may include allowance for capacity fade, a condition where the usage of a battery can slowly decrease the total capacity over the vehicles’ lifetime, which could mean minor range reduction.

Two additional questions to ask are:

1) Are extended warranties available for purchase after the original warranty is over?

2) What’s included in the maintenance schedule and what are the service intervals?

 

3. Incentives

In addition to O&M savings, many states, cities, and local sustainability organizations (example Clean Cities) offer rebates, tax credits, and incentives that help offset the upfront costs of EVs. Each program has different requirements, such as requiring the scrapping of old vehicles, route location, and more. With these incentives, process, deadlines, and program requirements are really important to follow and require detailed information to be provided for eligibility.

Upgrading to an electric fleet can also create new revenue streams by monetizing low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) credits. California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) program estimate electric fleet adoption can generate $5,000 to $8,000 per vehicle per year, depending on usage. Motiv-powered vehicles can generate one LCFS credit for every 600 miles of driving, and with the credit price around $200 today (March 2021), this means a revenue opportunity of $0.33/mile.

The process to secure incentive funding can be lengthy and time-consuming, we encourage our customers to start applying for funding as they start their project. Make sure to partner with a vehicle manufacturer that has a track record of working with fleet customers to collect and report data to secure funding.

 

4. Compliance

The California Advanced Clean Truck (ACT) regulation mandates an increasing percentage of Class 2b-8 truck sales starting in 2024. By 2035, 55% of Class 2b – 3 truck sales, and 75% of Class 4 – 8 will need to be electric. Additionally, a new reporting mandates is taking effect where fleet owners with 50 or more vehicles will need to report on their fleet operations to help identify future strategies for greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction initiatives.

Over a dozen other states have also followed suit with similar mandates. Start planning your vehicle electrification strategy early so that you can meet these regulations without having to rush to meet deadlines. Another reason to get ahead of regulations is that often when regulations come into effect, incentives are phased out.

 

5. Sustainability Goals

Many organizations enforce carbon reduction targets and monitor their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions offsets. With zero tailpipe emissions, as well as quantifiable business objectives, fleet electrification can accomplish both. Additionally, supply chain driven sustainability mandates now require more transparency and compliance with carbon-reduction measures.

“Sustainability is built into Bimbo Bakeries’ purpose and incorporating these vehicles into our fleet is an important step toward reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. With Motiv’s help, we’re confident that we will meet our goals.” — Eric McCann, Technical Fleet Manager at Bimbo Bakeries USA. (Nov. 10, 2020)

 

6. Charging Infrastructure

Charging Infrastructure consists of the charge stations, also known as Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE), and the electrical wiring, conduits, panels, transformers, and other electrical equipment necessary to get power into your electric vehicle. Charging infrastructure can be a much larger and more complex system for commercial vehicles since their daily electrical energy use is much higher than electric passenger cars.

Commercial charging infrastructure is not one-size-fits-all. Charging infrastructure should be “right-sized” to the fleet and to the daily energy needs of those vehicles. Many charging infrastructure providers are not trying to optimize the same cost structure as the fleet operator; they are looking to install the largest project, not necessarily a right-sized, efficient system. Not right-sizing your charging infrastructure can triple its cost and significantly impact ROI. Work closely with the vehicle manufacturer to understand what the vehicle charging capability is, and what the daily energy usage of vehicles will be, in order to ensure you install the right number of charge stations with the right power per station and overall power at a given site.

Oversizing any of charging infrastructure metrics can also dramatically increase the cost and the timeline of the build-out. Another consideration is how you will get any charging infrastructure hardware and software issues resolved. If you are not sure when the station or the vehicle is the source of the issue, do you have a trusted partner who will get things fixed expediently either way? Motiv deploys the infrastructure along with the vehicle, and due to intimate knowledge of the vehicle and its use case, will provide right-sized infrastructure and the most competitive price and fastest timeline with a single point of contact. To learn more about charging, check out our blog on the Fundamentals of EV Fleet Charging Technology.

 

7. Driver Training and Vehicle Support

As with any new technology, formal training upon initial and any subsequent vehicle deployments will help ensure project success. Many of the fleets who receive driver training after the initial deployment see an increase in range efficiency.

Documenting driver feedback is essential and can assist with further product improvements, new feature development, and route optimization. Early adopters of EVs report certain drivers become EV evangelists. In addition to less vibrations, engine heat, toxic emissions, and noise, our fleet operators report some unexpected benefits of driving electric trucks, including less fatigue that comes with single-pedal regenerative breaking and more time spent with customers vs fueling. Fleet managers have leaned on these evangelists for future training and they’ve become an important part of subsequent implementations.

Vehicle support starts with proper vehicle maintenance training at the start of each deployment. Empowering operators with simple pre-shift inspection practices ensures fleet longevity. To maintain best fleet uptime performance, make sure your vehicle manufacturer has a dedicated local support team to provide quick and convenient service if/when needed.

 

8. Vehicle Performance

It’s important to collect and evaluate driver and depot manager feedback, especially early on in the deployment. A key indicator of success in vehicle deployment is measured by uptime. We calculate fleet uptime on a weekly basis, counting vehicle down days as a percentage of total vehicles in service. Motiv-powered vehicles show high (98% and above) uptime performance – fleet reliability metrics that only Motiv is publishing thanks to our years of reliable field experience.

From your experience, what else should fleets consider when electrifying their fleets? Sometimes the best way to see if an EV is right for your medium-duty fleet is to get behind the wheel. Schedule a demo and take ours for a spin!

In 2020 we opened a new facility, expanded our product line, met with new customers and body builders, renewed partnerships with additional orders, and deployed more trucks and buses. Thank you for joining us on our journey to free fleets from fossil fuels!

 

As fleets evaluate electrification, charging stations are a new concept for many managers. Understanding electric vehicle (EV) fleet charging technology is a crucial step in implementing a successful program. 

While EV infrastructure may sound daunting at first, fleet electrification presents many benefits to your operations, namely, reduced fuel costs and maintenance over a fleet’s lifecycle. Below you’ll find essential information to help you get started on EV charging stations, electricity requirements, and how Motiv Power Systems can offer advice and support.

 

Charging Station/Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE)

Used interchangeably, charging stations or EVSE (see images below) refers to all of the equipment needed to deliver electrical power from a facility’s electrical service to an EV. A charge station includes a charging interface, charging cable, and connector to your vehicle’s charge port. 

 

         

Examples of Level 2 charging stations

 

An EVSE connector interface has multiple options depending on charging levels, most commonly Level 2 or 3. A Level 2 charging station will have a J1772 connector interface (also known as the J-plug), while a Level 3 charging station can have either a CHadEMO or CCS connector (see below). The J1772 safety standard defines how an EVSE connects to, communicates with, and ultimately charges an EV. All EVSE connectors, including the Level 3 Fast Charging DC connectors, have been standardized by global automotive organizations across many countries.

For Level 2 charging, Motiv’s onboard charger accepts up to 19.2 kW of input power from a charge station. For a Level 3 (DC Fast) charging station, Motiv-powered vehicles use a CCS1 combo connector and can accept up to 80 kW.  

Both options provide “electric fuel” to your vehicles. However, Level 3 charging stations deliver Direct Current (DC) straight to the vehicle’s battery pack and bypass the onboard charger. While Level 2 charging stations transfer AC power to an onboard charger, which then converts AC current to DC for the battery pack. 

Kilowatt (kW) ratings are shown for charging stations and furnishes a measurement of power associated with the equipment. For charging stations, a higher kW rating means lower charging times for your fleet vehicles (see the guide below). For class 4 – 6 vehicles, Level 1 charging isn’t considered a viable option because of the small amount of current and slower charging times. 

As a trusted fleet partner, Motiv assesses power needs and charging station requirements for fleet depots. This analysis starts by evaluating available power against expected demand, while also providing a design, review and necessary construction plans. Additionally, Motiv finds and procures commercial electricians, utility rebates, pull permits to help evaluate the right charging station for your application. This ensures right-sizing for current needs with a scalable approach towards the future. 

For example, a fleet that runs their route once a day and returns to depot to charge overnight, Level 2 charging (see below) would be an ideal fit — example: linen and parcel delivery, service providers, school buses and university campus shuttles. If your fleet operates 24/7, Level 3 charging would be a better option — example: airport shuttles.

 

EVSE Safety

While EV fleet applications are relatively new, electrical safety has been demonstrated for over 100 years on factory floors. Charging stations and their installation are regulated by the National Electrical Code and the stations themselves meet safety standards from Underwriters Laboratory (UL) and have Ingress Protection (IP) ratings. The charging connector interface communicates between a vehicle and a charge station to ensure the correct electrical current flow based on what the charge station can deliver and what the onboard charger can receive. The charging station also prevents the charging cord from being energized when the vehicle is not plugged in or other faults exist.

 

Reduced Fuel Costs

Advanced EV fleet charging technology presents opportunities to decrease fuel costs while also meeting sustainability goals or state emission regulations. Smart charging stations or network stations have wireless access and provide fleets with real-time charging data and reporting. These smart stations allow fleet operators to make decisions based on low-electricity pricing (time-of-use rates) and allows companies to schedule charging sessions. Plus, large-fleet operators can take advantage of power sharing options to avoid excessive peak demand pricing from power utilities. A simple way to look at smart charging is knowing the state of charge (SOC) for each vehicle plugged in at each location, the feeder capacity, and then distributing the total feeder power across all the vehicles to ensure they all reach SOC at the same or desired time (if they are staggered). 

 

Incentives 

Besides lower electric fuel costs compared to gas- and diesel-powered vehicles, many states, municipalities, and utilities are providing purchase incentives for charging stations, along with some discounts on installation. For example, the city of Pasadena in California offered a $3,000 rebate for the installation of a smart, Level 2 (240V) charging station for commercial, workplace, multi-unit dwelling (MUD), and fleet customers in 2018.

Motiv has staff dedicated to helping you find and apply for funding, for both vehicle and charging infrastructure. We have helped our customers receive over $18M dollars in funding. 

For more information on Motiv Powers Systems fleet applications, visit our success stories page. Interested to learn more, schedule a demo today. 

 

Great news for California transit agencies, non-profits, and CalACT members!

Our Motiv-powered electric shuttle bus has been awarded a contract by Morongo Basin Transit Authority (MBTA), and the California Association for Coordinated Transportation (CALACT).

The CalACT purchasing cooperative provides a federal and California State compliant purchasing option that allows you to select the vehicle that best meets your transit needs, avoiding lengthy and expensive RFBs and bid processes.

Electric shuttle buses are used for many transportation applications, including public transit, airports, hotels, universities, corporate campuses, parking services, and more.

Motiv has been at the forefront of the transportation electrification movement. In operation since 2015, the City of Mountain View Community Shuttle, Motiv’s electric shuttles are running daily, well past the designed project lifetime, and have almost 500,000 real world miles to date.

Motiv works with several industry leading shuttle bus builders including Turtle Top, to bring electric versions of popular bus brands to market. Based on the Ford eQVM approved EPIC E-450 chassis featuring BMW batteries, Motiv combines our EV expertise with bus manufacturing experience to deliver best-in-class electric buses to fleets nationwide.

To learn more, please get in touch with us today!

We partnered with Collins Bus and A-Z Bus Sales to bring our Motiv-powered Type A bus directly to school districts around California.  Getting behind-the-wheel or under-the-hood of a Motiv-powered vehicle is an interactive and fun experience for fleet managers, technicians, and operators. Motiv sales and support team members attend each training and demo, providing both technical and operational information. Customers can expect complimentary driver and maintenance training with each deployment.

We also offer training to our dealer-partners, ensuring their teams feel comfortable and knowledgeable as they begin to upgrade their customers to all-electric.

Our team is sensitive of current conditions which can provide travel challenges and we are here to accommodate. Motiv staff practices safety protocols including wearing and providing masks, frequent sanitation of our demo vehicles, and physical distancing.

Interested to see how your gas-powered vehicle compares on costs and maintenance? Take our total cost of ownership (TCO) calculator for a test drive. Fleets can expect to save up to 85% on operation and maintenance by switching from internal combustion engine (ICE) to electric vehicles (EVs).

Contact us to schedule a demo!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our first electric trolley is on the road in the beautiful Town of Estes Park in Colorado! We celebrated a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by Mayor Wendy Koenig, Vanessa Solesbee, Parking and Transit Manager, and other Town staff. The electric trolley will provide free zero-emission shuttle service while saving the Town over 1,700 gallons of fuel over one season. Read more about Estes Park’s Motiv-powered trolley here.

Estes Park’s new trolley is built on our EPIC F-53 chassis with body built by Hometown Trolley, the nation’s leading trackless trolley builder.

Photo courtesy of Estes Park News

 

Would you like to get behind-the-wheel of a Motiv-powered vehicle? Schedule a demo!

Aramark, a leading expert in safety, food, facilities, and uniforms, operates 31 Motiv-powered vehicles in California. Aramark is also a well known environmental advocate, as reflected by their ambitious corporate responsibility goals. Their Be Well. Do Well. sustainability plan focuses on making a positive impact on people and planet. In addition to electric vehicles, other initiatives include building healthier communities, sourcing responsibly, reducing packaging, and more.

Based on our EPIC F-59 chassis, Aramark’s Motiv-powered step vans have covered over 275,000 emission-free miles, have saved over $100,000 in fuel and maintenance costs, and are currently operating at a 99% uptime.  These trucks are on the road in some of California’s most polluted areas and help eliminate toxic tailpipe emissions while serving their communities.

Aramark has ordered an additional several dozen Motiv-powered step vans to be deployed next year.

Join Motiv Power Systems, Denver Metro Clean Cities Coalition, and the Town of Estes Park Tuesday, May 19 at 2pm MDT for a free webinar on how to procure EVs for your fleet and charging considerations.

Our Sales Application Engineer, Isaac Stratfold, will be talking about charging infrastructure planning and best practices while Vanessa Solesbee, Parking & Transit Manager, Public Works Department with the Town of Estes Park will discuss their new all-electric trolley, electrified by Motiv.

RSVP today!