This is the final report of Boulder Electric Vehicle’s project to demonstrate a pilot production line for medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks and shuttles in Los Angeles, California. This project was funded with $3 million from Boulder Electric Vehicle and $3 million from the CEC. The task one scope of the project includes all administrative tasks necessary to complete a grant-funded project within the CEC guidelines. The scope of task two of the project was to develop the pilot production line with all needed tooling, engineering software, inventory control software, and production processes in order to produce three demonstration vehicles. The scope of task three was data collection and analysis both of the manufacturing methods as well as the vehicle performance and quality control.
Major findings of the report include a need for greater automation in order to reduce the costs of electric trucks and shuttles. The report results focus on the rapid ability for engineering to use three-dimensional models to expedite build books and repair manuals. Conclusions focus on the need for a greater number of parts to be produced by tier one suppliers instead of in-house. Market-based recommendations focus on the needs to maintain electric vehicle incentive programs as well as develop an economic incentive for major utility companies to expand the infrastructure for fleet-based electric trucks and shuttles.
