Proterra launches energy ecosystem
US heavy-duty vehicle manufacturer Proterra has just launched Proterra Energy fleet solutions, a suite of turnkey options for electric fleets. The ecosystem includes design, build, financing, operations, maintenance and energy optimization for charging infrastructure.
Proterra says its solution is to simplify the transition to electric vehicles so that operators of medium- and heavy-duty vehicle fleets such as transit bus, school bus, truck and others can decrease their upfront costs and reduce risk. The US-owned company designs, builds, deploys and maintains electric buses, batteries, chargers and charging infrastructure that is purpose-built for heavy-duty electric vehicle application. The company’s product, Proterra Energy fleet solutions, can deliver one solution with a single point of contact for transitioning to an electric fleet.
Proterra CEO Ryan Popple explained: “We’ve taken our significant experience in designing, implementing and managing EV infrastructure projects for transit bus fleet operators throughout North America, and launched Proterra Energy fleet solutions to provide a customizable and comprehensive one-stop shop for customers transitioning to an electric fleet.”
In addition to building vehicles, the Californian company offers turnkey charging infrastructure installation for fleet depots and charging yards, including management of the entire building process from design to implementation. In assisting customers, Proterra offers high-fidelity route simulations, fleet modelling, and a detailed total cost of ownership analysis to determine the right vehicle, battery and charging configurations to meet individual route requirements both initially, and as the fleet scales.
In addition, with Proterra Energy fleet solutions, Proterra offers financing models to decrease upfront costs and mitigate risk. The US manufacturer recently teamed up with Mitsui & Co. of Japan to create a $200 million credit facility. The scheme helps to offset the battery price meaning that Proterra’s electric bus can have “roughly the same price as a diesel bus,” as the company claims. Mitsui and Proterra go further and aim to reutilise the power packs after their service life. The e-bus maker designed the power packs with “simplified integration for easy removal and a form factor that enables repurposing,” according to the statement. The Proterra electric bus battery leasing scheme is exclusive to North America.
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