Lightning eMotors signs repowering deals in Silicon Valley

LOVELAND — Lightning eMotors Inc. (NYSE: ZEV), a Loveland-based manufacturer of electric medium-duty commercial vehicles, has signed agreements with Silicon Valley technology companies that want to convert gasoline and diesel vehicles and shuttles to electric power.

According to a press statement from the company, the vehicles include Class 3 passenger vans and Class 7 motorcoaches that are already in service. As the tech companies scale back remote or hybrid work options following the COVID-19 pandemic, the buses will enable them to transport employees back to centralized work locations.

“Lightning’s repowered vehicles are being  used to provide zero-emission inner campus and Park and Ride transportation for thousands of employees in the region. In addition to reducing traffic congestion, fuel costs and tailpipe emissions, the vehicles will support increased productivity among the employees who utilize the service by providing a safe, quiet atmosphere during the time spent commuting to and from  work,” the statement said.

“We are encouraged by an acceleration in the adoption of repowered vehicles, not only by  these Bay Area powerhouses, but by private and public sector businesses and universities  across the country,” Lightning eMotors CEO Tim Reeser said in a written statement. “Industries are realizing that repowering existing vehicles with our electric drive system is a highly cost-effective way to lower emissions. And though some companies are looking at converting electric cargo vans to passenger vans, they don’t provide the range, payload or safety capacity as a repowered Transit.” 

Like most of the vehicles produced by Lightning, the repowered vehicles will be outfitted with advanced telematics so that technicians in Loveland can monitor vehicle performance in real time to help the vehicle owners with day-to-day operations. 

Lightning partnered with ABC Cos., a product and service provider in the transportation industry, to facilitate the repowering deals. ABC sought out a company that could provide powertrains on the scale needed by large corporate and municipal customers. 

“We’re seeing a significant uptick in interest in these vehicles as the world comes back from  COVID, and return-to-work life is accelerating,” ABC Cos. president and CCO Roman Cornell said. “Our previous work with Lightning eMotors provides insight that these repowered  vehicles will not only surpass customer expectations but also have the capability to spark a trend in and beyond the Bay Area as companies across the nation continue to seek out new  sustainable solutions.”

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