CALIFORNIA CLEAN ENERGY TOUR
ELECTRIC VEHICLES INTERNATIONAL

Electric Vehicles International (EVI) has developed, tested, and commercialized its line of zero-emission electric vehicles for close to 20 years.

In 2010, the year after EVI relocated its primary manufacturing plant from Mexico to Stockton in San Joaquin County, the California Energy Commission awarded the company $2.5 million to expand their state-of-the-art vehicle technology; and $3.9 million to modernize its electric vehicle manufacturing process. Both awards were made through the Energy Commission's Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program and leveraged with more than $10 million in private investments. As a result of the upgrades, EVI lowered the production costs of its vehicles.

EVI technology is used in a wide range of vehicles ranging from refrigerated freight trucks to construction, utility, and beverage trucks. In March 2012, the company announced a goal of deploying 500 electric delivery trucks in California over the following two years. Many commercial truck fleets are especially promising for electrification. Fixed delivery routes and return-to-base operations avoid range concerns and ease charging logistics. The United Parcel Service (UPS) became the perfect partner, committing to replacing 100 of their older generation diesel vehicles with 100 all-electric EVI delivery vans throughout California. When UPS ordered the vans in 2011, it was the largest planned deployment of zero-emission delivery vehicles in the state.

Facilitating this project further, the Energy Commission provided $4 million to the California Air Resources Board to provide incentives for more than 150 vehicles, including the UPS vans.

See more information about Electric Vehicles International.

Benefits

• More clean energy transportation reduces greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, saves operators money, and helps protect the environment and public health.
• The UPS project marked a significant step in fulfilling the Governor's Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) Action Plan, which calls for 1.5 million ZEVs on California's roadways by 2025.
• The fleet of 110 UPS vans eliminates the need for about 126,000 gallons of diesel fuel per year. Fleet owners can realize diesel fuel cost savings of more than $1,000 a month for each vehicle, and maintenance costs are lower than for conventional diesel vehicles.
• Approximately 50 new jobs were created at the EVI facility.
• EVI has effectively leveraged public investment, garnering more than $30 million in private investment.

Key Developers and Partners

• California Energy Commission
• United Parcel Service (UPS)

Type of Project

Electric vehicle manufacturing

Status

By the end of 2013, UPS deployed 100 all-electric EVI delivery vans which currently remain in use throughout California.