Lightning eMotors, a provider of zero-emission medium-duty commercial vehicles and EV technology for fleets, has announced the production launch of its latest generation Lightning ZEV4™ work trucks. This follows the company’s recent efforts to meet the growing demand for Class 4 school buses and shuttle buses on the same platform. The Lightning ZEV4 is a versatile model that caters to various vehicle applications, including box trucks, stake bed trucks, utility trucks, dump bed trucks, and daily work/landscaping trucks, in addition to cargo delivery vehicles, shuttle buses, and school buses.
According to Lightning eMotors CEO Tim Reeser, their success in the commercial vehicle electrification market lies in providing customized products to meet specific customer needs, which has become their niche. The flexibility of the ZEV4 platform enables them to accommodate a wide range of applications, positioning Lightning as a preferred vehicle manufacturer in the growing medium-duty commercial vehicle market.
The Lightning ZEV4 model is equipped with 120 kWh batteries securely placed within the frame rails, offering 241 horsepower, 790 lb-ft of torque, and a range of up to 130 miles. It also boasts improved weight distribution for enhanced handling and safety. The ZEV4 supports Level 2 AC charging and 80 kW DC fast charging.
To expedite the adoption of electric fleet vehicles, several state and federal funding programs are available across North America, offering significant cost offsets. In the United States, state-level initiatives like California’s Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP), New York’s Truck Voucher Incentive Program (NYTVIP), New Jersey’s Zero-Emission Incentive Program (NJZIP), and Colorado’s Clean Fleet Vehicle & Technology Grant Program provide incentives of up to $100,000 per Class 4 vehicle. Federal programs, including the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure and Jobs Act and incentives from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, offer billions in funding for commercial EV acquisition and infrastructure.
In Canada, incentive programs such as the Incentives for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Zero-Emission Vehicles Program (iMHZEV), the Zero-Emission Transit Fund, and the Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program can help offset the cost of fleet vehicle electrification. These programs can be combined, resulting in minimal costs, and also provide funding for EV charging solutions, including mobile options like Lightning Mobile and installed infrastructure.
Lightning eMotors CRO Kash Sethi believes that there has never been a better time for Class 4 work truck operators to transition to zero-emission vehicle technology. The availability of aggressive funding programs, combined with advanced data tracking and insights capabilities, as well as the reliability and proven performance of Lightning’s GM-based Lightning ZEV4, create an ideal environment for operators to make the switch.
The ZEV4 platform is compatible with a variety of bodies from manufacturers like Knapheide, Rockport Trucks, Brown Industries, and Morgan Corporation. Currently, ZEV4 work trucks have an average delivery timeframe of four to six months from the order date.
