Electric vehicle charging network provider ChargePoint and autonomous medium-duty trucking company Gatik are forming a strategic partnership to develop an electric ecosystem for self-driving fleet vehicles, the two companies announced on March 28.
Through the partnership, infrastructure and integrated services will be designed to decarbonize the B2B short-haul logistics sector and will offer solutions to help Gatik and ChargePoint’s customers meet their corporate sustainability goals.
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“Our partnership with Gatik will help more fleets to realize their e-mobility and decarbonization goals,” said Rich Mohr, VP of fleets at ChargePoint. “ChargePoint has proven experience across multiple customer applications and use cases. Together, ChargePoint and Gatik will provide industry-leading infrastructure and technologies for forward-thinking fleets.”
Customers transporting goods in Gatik’s autonomous electric fleet will have access to ChargePoint’s in-site design, interoperability validation, and lower entry costs. Gatik will also have access to a nationwide charging network and fleet-specific software that provides telematics intelligence configurable to each customer’s operations, as well as modular charging hardware to minimize upfront costs by reducing required electrical capacity. This strategic electric ecosystem collaboration for the middle mile will play a key role in the electrified logistics sector.
“Gatik’s autonomous electric fleet is uniquely positioned to increase efficiency and reliability across the supply chain’s middle mile, and drive sustainability across critical operational metrics for our customers,” said Arjun Narang, Gatik co-founder and CTO. “Our partnership with ChargePoint will ensure that we’re not only meeting intensifying demand for our product offering and service but offering our customers access to national charging infrastructure and a wealth of technical advantages to support them in meeting their corporate sustainability goals.”
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Powered by ChargePoint’s scalable and reliable charging technology, Gatik launched the industry’s first autonomous electric box trucks with Walmart in 2021, a solution the company said offers efficient goods movement, significant emissions reductions, and savings on fuel and powertrain maintenance costs.
As the retail, ecommerce, and logistics sectors look to decrease their carbon footprints, demand for Gatik’s product offering among national retail and ecommerce giants has increased, the startup said this week. This interest is leading to more ChargePoint infrastructure at Gatik’s vehicle depots and customer locations across existing and emerging markets.
Through the ChargePoint partnership, Gatik’s fleet customers would have access to Gatik’s Classes 3-6 autonomous electric fleet and ChargePoint’s charging infrastructure and integrated services.
