One of two battery vehicles being developed in a collaboration between Via and telecomm giant Verizon.
Mobile phone giant Verizon Indianapolis-based Via are collaborating on the development two plug-in electric work vehicles.
The vehicles would use VIA’s proprietary extended range electric vehicle technology and evaluate it for possible use in Verizon’s fleet.
“At Verizon, we’re in the business of breaking down old technology barriers to drive innovation,” said James Gowen, Verizon’s chief sustainability officer. “By collaborating with VIA on this extended-range technology, we hope to create a game-changing opportunity not just for Verizon, but for other companies and industries as well, to reduce emissions and cut maintenance costs without having to wait years for large-scale, electric-charging infrastructure.”
VIA showed off an “electrified” pickup truck and cargo van, which are two of the most widely used vehicles in Verizon’s fleet.
Both of the vehicles use VIA’s proprietary eREV power train technology, enabling them to drive a majority of their daily work routes emission-free and entirely on electric power. The vehicles have up to 40 miles of all-electric range, using advanced technology lithium ion batteries, with the added capability to drive unlimited additional miles using VIA’s onboard electric generator or range extender.
Both vehicles can be charged from a typical 110-volt household outlet overnight for as little as $1 a day in some states.
During independent testing, VIA’s plug-in pickup trucks have demonstrated up to 100 miles per gallon in typical fleet driving. VIA anticipates the Verizon electrified work vehicles should improve fleet fuel economy up to 300% while cutting emissions by at least half.
In addition to significant fuel savings, Verizon anticipates utilizing the vehicles’ onboard generator and power export option to power work tools or even provide power to Verizon’s network in an emergency.
Work vehicles, which typically carry thousands of pounds of equipment and cargo, can save significantly more money than lighter vehicles by shifting to electricity that costs just 50 cents per equivalent gallon in many states, according to Verizon’s estimates.
“We are impressed with Verizon’s leadership and commitment to the environment and look forward to helping them electrify their large fleet,” said Kraig Higginson, chief executive officer of VIA Motors.
As TheDetroitBureau.com has reported on several occasions, many industry analysts believe the real push to electrification could come on the fleet side. For one thing, fleets have a clear understanding of both their per-mile costs – and the amount of usage any vehicle is expected to make on a particular day. That makes it possible to know whether a battery car, plug-in or conventional vehicle is best suited to a particular role.
Fleets are also in a better position to have centralized charging infrastructure.
Ford has been test-marketing a version of the TransitConnect EV for fleet use and GE has indicated plans to buy thousands of electrified vehicles, including Chevrolet Volts, in the next several years. But one company hoping to profit from fleet demand, Bright Automotive, recently was forced to pull the plug when it was unable to get a much-needed federal loan.
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