After initially replacing 20 percent of its Vernon California fleet with electric delivery trucks, AmeriPride Services announced it plans to add 20 additional walk-in vans equipped with the Motiv Power Systems all-electric powertrain to the company’s California fleet.
“This total of 30 sets an industry record of a textile rental services and supply company with the most electric trucks in the U.S. Supported in part through a multi-million dollar grant from the California Air Resources Board, the new order of 20 trucks will be deployed in the San Joaquin Valley cities of Bakersfield, Fresno, Merced and Stockton,” according to the company.
“Continuing to reduce the carbon footprint of our delivery trucks further demonstrates AmeriPride’s commitment to the environment and communities we serve,” said Bill Evans, president and CEO of AmeriPride. “We’re proud to be an industry leader in environmental sustainability and will continue to implement green technologies that help enhance our clean operations, especially in areas where there is an identified need for air quality improvements.”
Utilizing Roush Industries’ assembly services to manufacture AmeriPride’s 20 walk-in vans, Motiv said it was able to use line assemblers, rather than engineers, to build the vehicles. Roush uses a total systems approach to designing and managing the entire work flow of information, materials and services, from raw materials suppliers, through factories and warehouses, to the end customers.
“Thanks to Roush Industries’ assembly line, we’re able to improve the production of work trucks powered by Motiv’s All-Electric Powertrain, improving the pricing for these trucks due to economies of scale,” said Motiv CEO Jim Castelaz. “More reliable, affordable all-electric work trucks are coming, and we look forward to bringing them to our customers at a much more efficient pace and price.”
Late last year, Motiv initially provided AmeriPride’s Vernon branch with 10 zero-emission step vans. The delivery vehicles feature up to 20 percent gradeability, 80 miles of range and a 50 percent battery charge time of 2.5 hours.
Like other Motiv-powered vehicles, the AmeriPride walk-in vans are built on a Ford F59 Chassis. Fordwill be exhibiting one of those electrified F59 chassis in their booth at the NTEA Work Truck Show (WTS) 2017. In addition, a completed AmeriPride truck will be available for test drives at the WTS Ride & Drive.
