VIA Motors and Verizon to Develop Electric Vehicles
Verizon and VIA Motors announced on Tuesday (March 6) that they will collaborate to develop and demonstrate plug-in electric work vehicles using VIA’s proprietary eREV (extended range electric vehicle) technology and evaluate the technology for possible wide-scale application into Verizon’s fleet.
The announcement was made at a press conference at the National Work Truck Show in Indianapolis, where VIA demonstrated an “electrified” pickup truck and cargo van, two of the most widely used vehicles in Verizon’s fleet, and provided test drives for the media and the public at the show.
[ Also Read: Audi A3 e-tron Electric Vehicle Pilot Program ]Both vehicles use VIA’s proprietary eREV power train technology, enabling them to drive a majority of their daily work routes emission-free and entirely on electric power.
The vehicles have up to 40 miles of all-electric range, using advanced technology lithium ion batteries, with the added capability to drive unlimited additional miles using VIA’s onboard electric generator or range extender. Both vehicles can be charged from a typical 110-volt household outlet overnight for as little as $1 a day in some states.
[ Also Read: Mitsubishi Electric Vehicle Goes to First Customer ]Meanwhile, Honda has delivered 2013 Fit EV battery-electric vehicles to Google and Stanford University as a part of the Honda Electric Vehicle Demonstration Program. (Read: How Google Drives Honda Electric Vehicle)
In independent testing, VIA’s eREV pickup trucks have demonstrated up to 100 miles per gallon in typical fleet driving. VIA anticipates the Verizon electrified work vehicles should improve fleet fuel economy up to 300 percent while cutting emissions in half or more.
“At Verizon, we’re in the business of breaking down old technology barriers to drive innovation,” said Verizon’s chief sustainability officer, James Gowen. “By collaborating with VIA on this extended-range technology, we hope to create a game-changing opportunity not just for Verizon, but for other companies and industries as well, to reduce emissions and cut maintenance costs without having to wait years for large-scale, electric-charging infrastructure.”
VIA Motors is a privately held electric vehicle development and manufacturing company.
