Tracking the EV Battery Factory Construction Boom across North America
In 2019, just two battery factories were operating in the United States with another two under construction. Today there are about 34 battery factories either planned, under construction or operational in the country.
The Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law August 16, 2022, might not have been the initial catalyst behind the onshoring battery factory trend. But it did help open the spigot and accelerate the pace of factory projects — not to mention sparking a climate tech arms race with the EU.
What has followed is a wave of automakers and battery makers — foreign and domestic — pledging to produce North American–made batteries before 2030.
Fleet Pro Focus: Ernie Garcia of Gothic Landscape
By Tod Trousdell, Marketing Consultant
This week we continue our Fleet Professional Profile series with some thoughts from Ernie Garcia, Director of Fleet and Business Systems at Gothic Landscape.
A rising young star in fleet, Ernie served on one of the featured panels at last year’s AFLA conference and is quickly making a name for himself in the industry. Here’s a look at his thoughts on some of key issues facing fleet.
Looking at the industry today, what excites you most about fleet?
There is always a new path to take, or new ways to approach an issue. Every fleet is different and discovering solutions for our challenges is what gets us out of bed in the morning.
Fleet Advantage COO Matt de Aguiar Named NextGen Leader by Monitor Magazine
Fleet Advantage announced Chief Operating Officer Matt de Aguiar, MBA, CLFP, has been named a 2024 NextGen Leader by Monitor Magazine.
The NextGen Leaders award annually highlights 40 up-and-coming leaders under 40 in the equipment finance industry.
“His (de Aguiar's) ability to lead and inspire others is a testament to his commitment to excellence, adaptability, and visionary thinking not only for Fleet Advantage, but for the equipment finance and transportation industries as a whole,” said Brian Holland, President and CEO of Fleet Advantage.
U.S. Public EV Chargers Set to Surpass Gas Stations in 8 Years
America’s EV charger deserts continue to vanish as an array of networks switched on 704 new, public fast-charging stations. There are now nearly 9,000 public, fast-charging sites in the US.
At the current pace, public fast-charging sites will outnumber gas stations in the U.S. in about eight years. North American operators will spend a collective $6.1 billion on charging infrastructure this year, nearly double their 2023 investment.
“We’re seeing demand for fast charging skyrocket,” said Sara Rafalson, executive vice president at EVgo Inc., which operates almost 1,000 stations in the U.S. “We’re continuing to build bigger and bigger stations because we need to keep up with that demand.”
Volvo to Receive $208M to Accelerate Heavy-Duty Electric Truck Production
The Energy Department awarded $208 million to Volvo Technology of America to help fast-track the production of heavy-duty electric trucks and related powertrain components.
The funding will assist Volvo Group’s Lehigh Valley Operations truck assembly site in Macungie, Pennsylvania, where it produces Mack trucks, and its New River Valley truck location in Dublin, Virginia, Volvo’s largest truck manufacturing plant in the world.
“Through facility upgrades and employee training, this grant will help our U.S. plants more efficiently produce the innovative trucks and zero-emission powertrain components essential to this transition,” said Stephen Roy, chairman of Volvo Group North America and president of Mack Trucks.
