Global transport company SEA Electric took a big step forward in the U.S., with confirmation of an order for more than 1,000 SEA Hino M5 EVs, the single largest order in the company’s history.

Set to be delivered to GATR EV (a division of GATR Truck Centers), the zero-emission trucks will feature the patented SEA-Drive Power System. The SEA Electric offering of pure-electric systems is adaptable to most OEM glider chassis platforms, from medium-duty Class 3 to heavy-duty Class 8.

Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, over the past 18 months, SEA Electric has established a nationwide network of technology partners as well as collaborations with leading OEMs.

The SEA M5 EV model featured at the recent ACT Expo in Long Beach, California, complete with the SEA-Drive 120a Power System, which is specified for truck platforms with a GVWR of 13,000- to 18,000-pounds (Class 3-5). The package features a 1,106 lb.-ft. electric motor in combination with a 138 kWh battery pack.

“This deal is the culmination of years of research, development and growth, and proves that SEA Electric is on track to be number one when it comes to electrifying fleets across the world,” said Mike Menyhart, SEA Electric President – Americas and Chief Strategy Officer. “The market is looking for a proven EV solution, and with SEA Electric, we bring that to the industry technology which has been verified with millions of miles of real-world use. Furthermore, this announcement reaffirms our commitment to continue our rapid expansion within the North American market, and sets the scene for an exciting 2022.”

For SEA Electric, the milestone is the company’s first four-digit order.

“And, it comes in a non-incentive state, which proves that commercial EV solutions can expand in areas with no incentives, while all corners of the market are seeking premium EV solutions,” said Nick Casas, SEA Electric Vice President of Sales & Marketing. “GATR should be congratulated for being at the forefront of EV supply and being capable of servicing the needs of large fleets immediately. GATR has a partnership with Merchants Fleet, which will benefit the end-user, who will not only be able to access an electric solution straight away, but will be able to transact with one of the most respected leasing companies in the USA.”

Merchants Fleet has committed more than $2B toward having 50% of its mobility fleet electric by 2025 and 50% of its clients’ fleet electric by 2030. The company has also launched an Adopt EV program, designed to help  guide businesses through each step of the fleet electrification process — from assessing needs, to purchasing the right vehicles, to charging options and infrastructure support.

GATR Truck Center, which features five dealerships throughout Iowa and Minnesota, currently has an e-commerce system in development to sell purely electric vehicles. The first 40 vehicles are expected to be delivered by the end of December 2021, with the remaining vehicles to be delivered throughout 2022.

Read the full article at Green Fleet Magazine published on October 20, 2021.

AP Equipment Financing is pursuing an initiative to provide competitive finance programs for package and delivery customers looking to acquire electric vehicles. To begin this initiative, AP will be providing finance solutions for SEA Electric‘s suite of electric vehicles tailored and designed solely for Package Delivery contractors, such as FedEx Ground.

“Financing commercial grade electric vehicles, with manufacturers such as SEA Electric, is not only a great option for providing state of the art, high-quality vehicles for our Package Delivery clientele, but this is also a socially responsible initiative that our company stands firmly behind” stated Nick Fong, Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Technology Officer of AP. “Our customers have come to rely on AP’s ability to provide value-added services beyond the standard finance program. We take pride in our ability to provide the highest levels of customer service. This often entails preparing for large industry changing disruptions such as the electric vehicle transition. Staying ahead of the curve and offering finance packages customized to the unique requirements of EV’s demonstrates our dedication to our customers’ ever-changing needs, as well as our dedication to reducing carbon footprints nationwide.”

“We are at a point now where we are running major trials with some of the world’s largest fleet operators — the UPS, Staples and FedEx,” says Mike Menyhard, CSO of SEA Electric. “At the end of the day, those are the type of organizations that could very well put in three-, four- and five-digit orders, and we need to be able to show them how we would be able to support them,” According to SEA Electric, they are on schedule to deliver more than 1,000 electric commercial vehicles this year and to have more than 15,000 vehicles on the road by the end of 2023.

AP Equipment Financing and their parent company, Tokyo Century USA, recognize that addressing environmental issues is a social responsibility and will seek to contribute to the creation of an environmentally-sound, sustainable economy and society by acting with due consideration for environmental issues.

Read the full article at AP Equipment Financing by Cori Miller published on September 28, 2021.

SEA Electric says its display at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in California from August 30 to September 2 has been a major success for the company.

Four vehicles were displayed; a bare Ford Step Van Class 6 (SV6) chassis and a SEA Hino M5 EV chassis, with a ride and drive experience featuring a SEA Hino M5 EV (Staples box truck) and a SEA SV6 EV (FedEx Ground step van) with about 40 of the expo’s 5000 visitors experiencing these.

Australian-founded and now Los Angeles-based SEA Electric says all four vehicles have the SEA-Drive 120a electric power system it has been developing since 2012.

The expo showcased the latest products available in the alternative fuels sector, with SEA Electric providing a solution for most truck and van OEM glider chassis, from Class 3 to Class 8.

The event was also the first public display since tier one transport drivetrain supplier Meritor announced its strategic investment and shareholding in SEA Electric, with a Meritor 14Xe ePowertrain featured on the stand.

The system is suited to Class 8 refuse and linehaul trucks, Class 6-7 pickup and delivery, plus school bus applications.

“Overall, the ACT Expo was an outstanding success for SEA Electric, with hundreds of current and potential partners catching up with our team of sales and engineering staff,” SEA Electric founder and president Tony Fairweather says.

“Through networking with other companies at the expo, we are aware of a genuine interest in our products, which is particularly heartening, especially as we power towards an IPO.

“The feedback we received was incredibly positive; driving an EV is a phenomenal experience compared to anything else on the road.”

The trucks have a 138kWh battery pack, delivering up to 320km range, with a typical break-even period of fewer than four years without considering any applicable grants or subsidies.

The US ACT Expo is from May 9 to 12 next year.

Read the full article at Auto Talk by Geoff Dobson published on September 16, 2021.