Stimulus Winner Navistar's All-Electric Commercial Truck Looks Like a Hit

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Navistar's all-electric commercial trucks are rolling off the assembly line and into the fleets of green-oriented companies like FedEx and Pacific Gas & Electric a year after the truck maker was awarded a $39.2 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus grant grant. "In just the last two months, we've seen a number of customers — large and small — express interest in the eStar all-electric truck," said Mark Aubry, eStar's VP for sales and marketing. "We've delivered eStar trucks to FedEx and Pacific Gas & Electric Company, and with vehicle orders in the pipeline, we continue to work toward our goal of building 400 units this year." The medium-duty purpose-built truck was made from the ground up for electric power and isn't a fossil-fuel truck conversion. The eStar, with its 100-mile range, aerodynamic 180-degree visibility windshield, 36-foot turning radius and low-floor design make it ideal for short-haul urban commercial use. The cassette-style battery can be switched out in 20 minutes, allowing for continuous operation. It's also the first all-electric truck to get EPA certification as a clean fuel fleet vehicle, and California's Air Resources Board also gave its stamp of approval as a zero-emissions vehicle. Dealers are in place in the Pacific Northwest and California and more are expected to open in the Midwest and on the East Coast in the next 45 days.

Quick Take: This is an excellent example of how the stimulus program works, and it seems likely that the commercial sector will do a lot to drive the EV market considering its deep pockets, massive fleets and the allure of green branding.

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