Amazon Leads $700M Investment in Electric Truck Maker

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As it builds out its delivery fleet, Amazon is moving toward using a battery-electric delivery vehicle produced by Rivian Automotive, a Plymouth, Mich., manufacturer that earned media praise when it showed its first two vehicles at the L.A. Auto Show in November. The company is leading a $700-million round of new investment in Rivian.

Rivian, which will produce the vehicles at its manufacturing plant in Normal, Ill., was also negotiating with General Motors, Bloomberg reported.

While Rivian showed its R1T pickup and R1S midsize SUV in Los Angeles, it could develop a delivery van on its skateboard platform, said Michelle Krebs, an executive analyst at Autotrader. The two vehicles can deliver more than 400 miles of range.

“The investment is a drop in the bucket for Amazon, but it is huge for Rivian in terms of the amount of money and in terms of raising the profile of Rivian,” Krebs said. “Amazon is exploring ways to reinvent its delivery fleet, and Rivian’s electric-powered skateboard concept, which could carry a variety of body styles, offers an interesting possibility. While Rivian has shown a concept pickup truck and SUV, it could just as easily be offered as a delivery van. Electric vehicles for fleets makes more sense than individual ownership as routes, with charging stations strategically located, can be planned to optimize charging and range.”

Electrify America Opens 105 EV Charging Stations

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Electrify America has opened 105 battery-electric vehicle charging stations to the public since opening its first DC fast charging site in 2018, and has plans to open 484 more locations by July 2019.

The available charging stations cumulatively offer 465 chargers, according to the company. The upcoming 484 charging stations will offer more than 2,000 ultra-fast chargers, and will be located in 17 metropolitan areas and along high-traffic corridors in 42 states.

An additional 42 charging sites with 189 chargers have been constructed and are waiting to be energized by utility companies; 85 other charging sites with 393 chargers are in active construction; an additional 73 charging sites and 341 chargers with approved permits are scheduled for construction; and 34 are currently begin designed and engineered.

Electrify America’s chargers have a range in power from 50kW up to 350kW, which is capable of charging a vehicle at speeds up to 20 miles per minute. At 305 charging sites either open or in the construction process, the Electrify America network represents almost a 300 megawatt capacity.

EIA increases 2020 ethanol production forecast in February STEO

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The U.S. Energy Information Administration has released the February edition of its Short-Term Energy Outlook, maintaining its previous forecast for 2019 ethanol production, but slightly increasing the production forecast for 2020.

The EIA currently predicts ethanol production will average 1.04 million barrels per day this year, increasing to 1.05 million barrels per day next year. In January, the agency predicted ethanol production would average approximately 1.04 million barrels per day in both 2019 and 2020. Production averaged approximately 1.05 million barrels per day last year. 

On a quarterly basis, the EIA currently predicts ethanol production will average 1.03 million barrels per day during the first quarter of this year, increasing to 1.05 million barrels per day in the second quarter, and then falling to 1.04 million barrels per day during the third and fourth quarters. In 2020, the agency predicts ethanol will average 1.04 million barrels per day during the first quarter, increase to 1.06 million barrels per day during the second quarter, fall to 1.05 million barrels per day during the third quarter and return to 1.04 million barrels per day during the fourth quarter.

Futuristic 2019 Hyundai Nexo Showcases the Company’s Technological Prowess

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Hyundai’s Nexo stands out from the emerging wave of electric cars by being a limited-production fuel-cell vehicle—essentially an electric vehicle that produces its power onboard and has water as its only emission.

CR won’t be buying one for a formal test, given the Nexo’s limited availability (it’s sold in only California metro areas) and the sparse refueling infrastructure for hydrogen. Instead, we rented one from Hyundai.

We spent a couple of weeks driving the Nexo, and we’re impressed with its driving range, ride quality, and self-parking ability. 

Agility, New Flyer Ink CNG Cylinder Supply Deal

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Agility Fuel Solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hexagon Composites, has signed a long-term agreement with New Flyer Industries Canada ULC and New Flyer of America Inc. for the supply of compressed natural gas (CNG) cylinders for transit buses.

The multiyear deal represents an estimated overall delivery value of $75 million.

“We are pleased to continue our partnership with Agility to deliver clean fuel technologies and improve the value proposition for our customers,” says David White, executive vice president of supply management for NFI Group Inc., the parent company of New Flyer. “Over the course of our 25-year relationship, we have delivered more than 13,000 CNG-equipped buses with Agility, which over their useful lives will reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 4.4 million metric tons compared to diesel.”

Volkswagen updates compressed natural gas engine range

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Volkswagen has overhauled its natural gas models and is equipping its Polo and Golf TGI with a third natural gas tank, enabling the Polo TGI to now travel up to 60km farther in pure CNG mode than its predecessor. The gain in range in the Golf TGI is up to 80km. VW has also introduced a new 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 130ps to the Golf.

The German OEM has fitted its natural gas models of the Polo and Golf with a third natural gas tank made of specially coated, high-strength steel. The Golf’s tank has a volume of 23 liters and increases the total CNG tank volume to 115 liters, which offers a range of up to 422km in WLTP.

In the 1.0-liter three-cylinder-engined Polo the additional tank carries 16.5 liters and extends the natural gas storage to 91.5 liters in total, meaning that the Polo can travel up to 368km on CNG in WLTP. As a back-up, both models come with a gasoline tank.

Fully Electric Mack LR to Go into Fleet Service

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Mack Trucks says it is working with Republic Services to build and operate a fully electric Mack LR heavy-duty refuse truck.

“Mack looks forward to partnering with Republic Services to test the benefits a fully electric LR can offer in its day-to-day operations,” says Jonathan Randall, Mack Trucks’ senior vice president of North American sales and marketing. “As a leader in refuse and alternative solutions, Mack is uniquely positioned to offer a proprietary, integrated and fully electric solution for North America.”

For refuse hauling companies, the ability to operate quietly during the early morning hours is an attractive feature of electric vehicles. Further, Mack believes that a fully electric vehicle will work best in a closed loop application in which the truck returns home every night – such as in the refuse industry.

Use of EVgo Fast-Charging Network Booms

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Public EV fast-charging network EVgo says drivers used its infrastructure to drive more than 75 million miles in 2018, representing 88% growth from 2017.

With more than 1,100 public fast chargers in 34 states and 66 markets across the country, EVgo now serves more than 125,000 customers who drive a full range of today’s fast charge-capable electric vehicles.

 “2018 was a banner year for EVs, and EVgo’s 88 percent growth enabled 75 million electric vehicle miles,” says Cathy Zoi, EVgo CEO. “EVgo plans to double our fast-charging capacity by the end of 2020, working with utilities to accelerate EVgo’s delivery of convenient and reliable fast charging across the U.S.”

DHL Fattens Alternative Fuel Vehicle Fleet

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As part of its sustainability efforts, parcel delivery company DHL is rolling out a new fleet of electric delivery vans that will serve U.S. markets.

These 63 new vehicles add to the company’s existing alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) fleet, which includes fully electric, hybrid-electric, compressed natural gas, cleaner diesel and propane autogas.

According to the 2018 corporate responsibility report from Deutsche Post DHL Group, the parent company of DHL, its global road transport operations have a fleet of more than 97,000 vehicles, including 8,000 with alternative drive technologies.

DHL has set a target of operating 70% of its first- and last-mile delivery services with clean transport modes by 2025. This goal is part of a longer-term Deutsche Post DHL Group commitment to reduce its logistics-related emissions to zero by 2050, a goal announced in March 2017.

Shell Acquiring EV Charging Company Greenlots

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Greenlots, a Los Angeles-based provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging and energy management solutions, has signed an agreement to become a wholly owned subsidiary of Shell New Energies US LLC, a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell PLC.

Together, the companies will offer software and services that enable the large-scale deployment of smart charging infrastructure and integrate with advanced energy resources such as solar, wind and storage.

“As power and mobility converge, there will be a seismic shift in how people and goods are transported,” says Brett Hauser, CEO of Greenlots. “Electrification will enable a more connected, autonomous and personalized experience. Our technology, backed by the resources, scale and reach of Shell, will accelerate this transition to a future mobility ecosystem that is safer, cleaner and more accessible.”