Vicinity Motor Corp. (TSX-V:VMC) has announced a new collaboration with Proterra Inc, a leading innovator in commercial vehicle electrification technology, to power its electric transit buses and work trucks with its industry-leading battery technology.
Under a new, multi-year supply agreement, Vancouver-based Vicinity said the Proterra battery systems will power its Vicinity Lightning 28-foot electric transit bus and its strip chassis platform to support several commercial vehicle configurations such as utility trucks, shuttle buses, and box trucks.
The agreement is also expected to support its next-generation heavy-duty electric transit bus as well as the VMC 1200 Class 3 work truck and VMC 1500 Class 5 work truck with Proterra battery systems, Vicinity added.
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“We are pleased to announce this new commercial relationship with Proterra, a true battery technology leader,” Vicinity founder and CEO William Trainer said in a statement. “I look forward to working closely with the Proterra team to make our vehicles, equipped with their advanced battery systems, a staple in North American public transportation and industrial spaces.”
The company noted that Proterra is contracted to supply it with battery systems to power a minimum of 600 Vicinity commercial electric vehicles through 2024. It said the Proterra Powered Vicinity Lightning vehicle is expected to begin production in the third quarter of 2022.
Proterra batteries will be used in the production of Vicinity Lightning electric transit vehicles at Vicinity’s Ferndale, Washington manufacturing facility. Designed for the US and Canadian markets, the Vicinity Lightning will comply with Buy America requirements for Federal Transit Administration-funded programs in the United States.
“Cities and towns across North America are driving towards a future with clean air and a healthier environment for our kids and future generations,” Proterra CEO Gareth Joyce said.
“The question now is no longer if communities will transition to zero-emission, battery-electric transportation, but how fast we can get there. Together with Vicinity, we are excited to build on this innovative spirit as we bring more clean transportation solutions to the communities we live in and serve.”
Designed and manufactured in the US, Proterra said its battery packs leverage industry-leading energy density and a customizable design to fit within a variety of vehicles. Its best-in-class battery systems have been proven through more than 20 million service miles driven by Proterra transit vehicles across North America and selected by world-class commercial vehicle manufacturers to power school buses, work trucks, construction equipment, and more, it added.
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