Electric drive seems to be a big thing in Santa Monica, California. Drive around town for a while and you will likely see more Tesla Roadsters running around than anywhere else in the world. Now, the city itself is getting in on the act by placing the first order for a medium duty truck from ZeroTruck. The new truck will be used by the city water department as a service vehicle.

Electrorides claims the ZeroTruck will deliver a 100-mile range from its lithium ion battery pack. Drive comes from a UQM PowerPhase 100 motor. The ZeroTruck is based on an Isuzu N series cab-forward chassis. So far, there is no indication of how much the city is paying for this first truck or when it will take delivery. Fleet service applications like this are the ideal first jobs for electrification, since the limited range should be far less of an issue. The truck could even be plugged in while on a job site to help top-off the battery. For more on the truck, read this.


[Source: Electrorides]

In addition to the planned Alias from ZAP, the electric vehicle company reportedly wants to branch into the electric pickup truck market as well. According to the latest in a long line of press releases from ZAP, the company has completed the engineering stage of a project to develop a four-wheel electric pickup. The company claims it plans to build the new EV right here in the United States using parts and components largely sourced from U.S. suppliers.

We surmise that the electric truck would be built alongside the Alias at the delayed ZAP Motor Manufacturing Kentucky plant in Franklin, Kentucky. To make this goal a reality, ZAP has reportedly applied for a $160 million loan from the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) program. We're not sure if this would be the Zap Truck that's featured on the company's website or something new. Check out the press release after the jump.


[Source: ZAP]

Despite the tightening of economies world-wide, Modec, that UK manufacturer of all-electric trucks, seems to be plodding solidly ahead with new marketing efforts and more sales. We were just telling you about its continuing success with UPS and now it seems they have added another half dozen vehicles to their order book from the UK's largest tool and equipment rental company, Speedy Hire. The fact that this is a return customer, as is UPS, is indeed good news for those fretting about the future of the technology. The trucks' low carbon footprint seems to be a large factor behind the deal as revealed in comments from Speedy Hire's safety, health, environment and quality director, Mark Turnbull. "Environmental performance is becoming a key purchasing decision for customers – not least because it now plays an important role in prequalification questionnaires. We are continually looking for new and innovative ways to help our customers reduce their impact while enhancing their bid credentials."

Besides making sales, Modec has been busy putting together a promotional 3 minute movie. Well shot and edited, the video shows us lots of trucks rolling down various roads, as well as being built, whilst a narrator touts the vehicles various qualities. Hit the jump for all the Modec movie madness.

Update: Added another trio of just-released Modec testimonial movies.


[Source: Modec / YouTube]

An old Chevy S10 that's missing it's engine - but has a bank of batteries and an electric motor in its place - has turned up on eBay. The converted S10 has a 27 HP motor (well, that's what the seller thinks it is, anyway), 20 6V DC batteries and the original 5 speed transmisson. The seller put the batteries in last year and, with the included 30 amp, 220V charger, will charge the truck in about eight hours. This charge is good for about 40 miles and, understandably, the seller has been using this vehicle as an errand runner.The auction ends tomorrow. Current bid is $2,225 but the reserve hasn't been met. Buy it now price is $8,000.

This isn't the only S10 converted to run on electrons. Stanly Community College converted one as part of their EV truck series.


[Source: eBay via EcoModder]

Want to see the PML F-150 Hi-Pa cruising down the street? This all-electric truck that puts out a combined total of 600 hp and 2,000 lb-ft of torque from its four in-wheel motors made its debut at SEMA last week and, on top of the test drive video, we've got an on-the-floor introduction to the truck YouTube goodie after the jump. PML worked with DST Industries and Ford to take out the V8 powertrain and put in the motors and a 40 kWh lithium ion battery pack. While the first video just shows the truck on the road without any narration, the second is a full-on interview with
PML's Peter (no last name given) and shows off the new instrument cluster, the wheel motors and all the rest. Thanks for the tip, Paul!


[Source: YouTube]

When it comes to all things pickup truck related, Mike Levine is the go-to guy. Mike has been continuing to investigate the back story on the PML F-150 Hi-Pa that will making its debut at the SEMA Show next week. It turns out that PML didn't build this truck single-handedly. They teamed up with DST Industries and Ford on the project. The V8 powertrain has been completely stripped out in favor of the electric drive system. According the PML the motors are good for over 150 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque... each! That's over 600 hp cumulative and 2,000 lb-ft of torque at the wheels. PML's wheel motors pull electrons for drive from a 40 kWh lithium ion battery pack that sits under the rear part of the cab and the bed where the gas tank normally sits. The motors, of course, also provide regenerative braking capability although the hydraulic friction brakes are also retained.

The truck is currently electric only which means it has a range of only 75-100 miles. Early next year, PML is planning to add an engine and generator to transform it into a series hybrid. The company wants to use an existing emissions-certified engine, preferably a flex-fuel example. PML CEO Craig Knight told Mike that there are no current production plans for the Hi-Pa F-150 although it could be built by 2011. Mike tells ABG that PML doesn't plan to build motors but would rather license the designs to a tier 1 supplier that will work with automakers.


[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Following in the footsteps of our friend Andrew Angellotti, another teenager has taken it upon himself to convert a vehicle to fun on electric power on his own time. This time, the story revolves around 17-year-old Lucas Laborde, who took an old Bradley GT II kit car and put in about 150 hours to swap the engine for an electric motor and a set of batteries providing 96 volts. Luke's father bought him the $5,000 vehicle on eBay and then spent another $5,700 on the parts needed to make it run on electricity, according to the AP. One problem he had was that the 640 pounds worth of lead-acid batteries caused the frame to warp and the doors to not close. The windshield wipers don't work yet and the car has a top speed of just 45 miles per hour, but it's clear from the article that none of these shortcomings make Luke any less proud of his work. Congrats, and if anyone's got pictures, send 'em in.

[Source: AP via Green Daily]

It was only a few months ago that we informed you of a really heavy duty electric truck undergoing testing at the Port of Los Angeles. The Nautilus E30 from Balqon must have aced its audition because the company has just officially shown it off to the public at last week's CAPCOA Green Conference and Expo and announced its upcoming commercialization. There are orders for more of the behemoths from the Port of Los Angeles as well as from the AQMD. Union Pacific will incorporate the vehicle into its electric truck pilot program at the Intermodal Container Transfer Facility that it operates outside of the ports at Los Angeles and Long Beach. Balqon is so bullish on the future that they are moving their production facilities to Harbor City, California where they can produce up to 1,000 units a year.

The E30 retails for $208,500 and should, over 10 years, save about $400,000 in fuel while not emitting diesel smoke or a lot of noise and could help its California customers cope with stricter air pollution control programs. The truck can pull 60,0000 pounds and has a range between 30 and 60 miles. Though its customers can charge the lead acid batteries to 60 percent in one hour and completely full in 4 to 6 hours with an available fast-charging system, the batteries can also be swapped out in minutes. Bonus video of the E30 prototype going through its paces earlier this year as well as a press release after the jump.

[Source Balqon / Cunningham Report]

The recent lifting of the low speed vehicle (LSV) ban in Quebec has shone the light of discovery on another electric vehicle manufacturer getting ready to go gangbusters. In Ste.-Therese, Quebec, very close to where the Chevrolet Camaro plant was once located, sits the home of Nemo. Locally designed and manufactured, their vehicle, the Must HD2 has garnered interest from 50 municipalities within "La Belle Province" as well as from individuals. Company president, Jacques Rancourt, says they've sold 15 trucks in the past week and a half since their legal status changed and now expects to move 500 units this year.

The Must HD2 sells for around $20,000, is built on an aluminum chassis and can handle a 1,000 lb payload. Being an LSV, it's limited to 25 miles an hour but has a 70 mile range. Since it's made in the North, it does has a robust heater and many options ranging from lithium ion batteries to an AM/FM radio with CD player. We think it's a pretty cool looking truck, seemingly capable of handling a range of chores and so we wish the makers of this little brute, "Bonne chance!".


[Source: Nemo / Canada.com]

Way back in January, rumors began swirling regarding a potential tie-up between Chrysler's GEM and India's Tata Motors. The rumored love-child was an electric version of the delivery truck known in India as the Tata Ace. Now, we have a potential price for the unit, and it sounds almost too good to be true. According to Auto Observer, the electric Ace could sell for as little as $5,000 and would meet all necessary safety regulations in the United States. We'd imagine that this vehicle would be classified as a NEV, which would limit it to twenty-five miles per hour and operation on streets with a speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less.

No details are available regarding what kind of batteries or range are available. We can see a small delivery vehicle which uses no gasoline going over rather well in dense urban areas. Sales possibilities exist in both the U.S. market as well as in India.

[Source: Auto Observer]