Orange EV recently delivered its 500th electric yard truck, which was purchased by Rhode Island-based food distributor United Natural Foods (UNFI).
The electric vehicle manufacturer founded in 2012 in Kansas City, Missouri, has deployed more zero-emission yard trucks than all of its competitors combined, according to CALSTART, a non-profit dedicated to the growth of clean transportation technologies.
UNFI plans to add eight electric yard trucks in the next month, bringing its total U.S. fleet to 10 Orange EV units, the companies said.
“Since the first Orange EV trucks were placed in service, we have been very happy with the performance, reliability, ROI, and environmental impact they are making,” said Jeff Wismans, national director of fleet operations at UNFI.
“It made it an easy decision to add eight more.”
The Orange EV milestone comes on the heels of a $35 million funding investment in Orange EV led by S2G Ventures and CCI, an affiliate of Henry Crown and Company, the expansion of the Orange EV yard truck rental program nationwide, and the announcement of plans to move to a larger production facility to keep pace with demand.
Orange EV yard trucks now are moving goods in 30 states and in more than 140 fleets, Orange EV said.
“Orange EV’s launch in 2012 with just $50,000 in our coffers was met with a healthy dose of skepticism, but we were determined to prove that zero-emission yard trucks are the real deal,” said Wayne Mathisen, co-founder and CEO at Orange EV. “With this historic milestone, Orange EV has accomplished the seemingly impossible feat of generating excitement about EV trucks within the commercial trucking space, and we did it by manufacturing trucks that are superior operationally, financially, and environmentally.
“Our trucks are safer, more reliable, save our customers money vs. diesel, and are preferred by drivers and management alike.”
Data shows yard trucks are one of the fastest trucks to convert to fully electric. Orange EV has proven the financial savings are “significant” vs. diesel fuel and diesel truck repairs, the truck’s reliability and uptime are superior to diesel versions, and the emissions reductions are a key benefit for drivers and the environment, the company maintained. Over a 15-year lifespan, a Tier 3 diesel engine operating 6,000 hours per year at 2.5 gallons per hour can emit:
- 25 tons of NOx
- 23 tons of CO
- 1,200 kg PM
- 2,500 tons CO2
Orange EV trucks, on the other hand, produce zero emissions and use clean, efficient, and low-cost fuel, the company concluded.
“The unsung heroes of supply chain and logistics, yard trucks are typically used to move trailers and containers in distribution centers, rail intermodals, ports, and a range of other facilities where uninterrupted movement is mission critical,” said Kurt Neutgens, Orange EV co-founder and CTO. “Orange EV zero-emission trucks do the same work as their diesel-powered counterparts while eliminating the diesel fuel and emissions that are endangering people’s health and our climate.
“Orange EV was the first in this space and will continue to lead the industry with more innovative offerings.”
