Electrorides Inc. is developing an all-electric walk-in van that will scale easily into the operations of businesses that rely on delivery systems.
The vehicle is targeted to companies that are involved in parcel post delivery, aircraft maintenance, utility service and delivery of dry freight, bakery, linen and other products.
Based on a Freightliner Custom Chassis Company MT45, the vehicle will feature a lightweight aluminum composite body and will use a PowerPhase 150 electric propulsion system from UQM Technologies Inc., according to a press release.
The all-electric walk-in van, which is still under development, will add to Electroride's all-electric, medium duty ZeroTruck, which has a low cab forward design and can go up to 100 miles on a charge, including highway capability.
Electrorides is based in Southern California. It produces commercial electric vehicles for public and private fleets.
Across the nation, food and beverage distributors, among other companies, are looking for ways to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.
Frito-Lay North America, a business unit of PepsiCo, is adding more than 1,200 fuel-efficient Sprinter vehicles to its U.S. fleet, which will help the company cut energy costs and reduce emissions.
In 2008, UPS expanded its U.S. Green Fleet from 50 hybrid electric trucks to 250, and increased its fleet of vehicles running on compressed natural gas from 800 to 1,100.
