Projects

Electric Vehicles International (EVI) Electric Vehicle Manufacturing

Electric Vehicles International (EVI) will design, develop, and deploy a clean, state-of-the-art range-extended EV power train technology for medium-duty trucks, using Valence lithium-phosphate batteries for a 100-115 mile range. These vehicles will use a liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered motor and generator to extend its range. The powertrain will be integrated into 10 standard medium-duty pick-up trucks owned by Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)

Grant Amount

The Energy Commission will provide $2,569,367 in Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program funds.

Match Funding

The project partners are providing $2,839,777 in match and in-kind funding.

Project Participants

EVI will provide the lead vehicle development and production role for this project.

Light Engineering will provide their SmartTorq motor/generator. Valence Technology will provide lithium-phosphate batteries to power the proposed vehicle.

Altec Industries will supply equipment and provide engineering support.

Pacific Gas & Electric (and potentially other utilities and agencies) will provide utility vehicles from their fleet to be retrofitted with the EV powertrain.

Project Benefits

Increasing this award provides EVI with necessary funding to go beyond two prototype vehicles and add eight production vehicles to the project. The production vehicles allow a more robust demonstration of the technology’s viability in various applications.

Compared to its petroleum-fueled counterpart, each range-extended electric vehicle will use the equivalent of 1,750 gallons less of fuel and save an average $8,000 on fuel purchases and maintenance annually, and release over 38,000 fewer pounds of CO2 every year. This project will create new 40 green jobs in Stockton, California, one of the nation’s hardest hit regions economically with an unemployment rate of over 16 percent. This project will also generate significant sales tax revenue for the state and city/county.