Incentives & You: SEA Electric’s USA Guide
Worldwide, transport operators understand the need to switch to cleaner and greener solutions, such as those provided by SEA Electric.
A growing number of states across the USA now have in place goals for manufacturers and users to achieve, with target milestones set in policy to replace older, polluting fleets.
To help facilitate the switch, these states offer various financial incentives to help break down the barriers for individuals and company fleets to go green, with each state developing its own bespoke policies and conditions.
For instance, in some programs, the dealer applies for the incentives, while in others, the onus is on the purchaser to apply for the assistance, some have ICE scrapping conditions in place, others have fleet size regulations and an assortment of bonuses, which all vary from state-to-state.
Across the nation, multiple incentive programs have already been fully subscribed, meaning that there is strong value in applying for vouchers when they are launched – it’s worth checking on your local state’s offering, as programs are constantly evolving as funds become available.
While your local SEA Electric dealer will be familiar with the rules, regulations and processes in your jurisdiction – here is a quick overview of the offers which may currently be available to you.
Please consult with your local government body for the latest available package, as further states open up their own programs, while existing programs are continually refined and remember to exercise your own due diligence at all times.
California
HVIP – https://californiahvip.org/
California has been internationally recognized as a leader in the space, with the work of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) setting a benchmark many others have followed.
The program currently offers incentives of $60,000 for the SEA 5e (formerly SEA Hino M5) EV, and $85,000 for Class 6 vehicles, while bonuses exist for fleets with ten or fewer medium and heavy-duty vehicles, plus for the Disadvantaged Community (DAC). Bulk vehicle purchases are also available.
South Coast AQMD Voucher Incentives – http://www.aqmd.gov/home/programs/business/business-detail
This Voucher Incentive Program is now available for fleets with ten or fewer vehicles that are operated primarily in California, with a maximum value of $240,000 for zero-emission Class 5 and 6 replacement trucks based on the year and mileage of the truck being scrapped. Vehicles must be purchased via an approved AQMD dealer.
New Jersey
NJZIP – https://www.njeda.gov/njzip/
Another highly successful program that is currently oversubscribed, with new applications being placed on a waiting list.
Voucher amounts have been capped at 100%of the vehicle cost, with voucher amounts for the SEA 5e at $90,000 per vehicle, plus additional bonuses for small businesses and minority/women/veteran-owned businesses.
Massachusetts
MOR-EV Trucks – https://mor-ev.org/mor-ev-trucks
Rebates are available for a range of environmentally friendly transport solutions with a sale price above $50,000 and a GVWR of over 8,500 pounds.
The incentives are available in a range of blocks, with a value of up to $60,000, for the SEA 5e.
Colorado
Clean Fleet Vehicle & Technology Grant Program – https://cdphe.colorado.gov/clean-fleet-vehicle-technology-grant-program
For Class 5 and Class 6 trucks, the program offers incentives of 50 and 55 per cent respectively of the new vehicle cost, with further bonuses of up to $25,000 available for scrapping redundant ICE-powered trucks.
Colorado Electric School Bus Grant Program – https://cdphe.colorado.gov/electric-school-buses
With respect to Type C School Buses, approved buyers can receive up to 55 per cent of the total conversion cost to EV, with the program extending to high voltage training for fleet technicians.
Oregon
Diesel Emissions Mitigation Grants – https://www.oregon.gov/deq/aq/programs/Pages/Diesel-Grants.aspx
A range of incentives are available to eligible fleets of trucks and school buses, valued at up to 75 per cent of the value for non-government-owned buses being repowered, model year 2009 and older, and 100 per cent of the value for government-owned buses.
New York
NY Truck Voucher Incentive Program – https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Truck-Voucher-Program
New York’s NTYVIP covers Class 5 and 6 trucks, with a voucher for the SEA 5e at up to $110,000, or 95 per cent of the incremental cost of purchase, while vouchers of up to $125,000, or 95 per cent of the incremental cost of purchase, are available for Class 6 trucks.
NYC Clean Trucks Program – https://www.nycctp.com/
Similar to the NY Truck Voucher Incentive Program, the NYCCTP also offers funding of up to $110,000 for Class 5 trucks, and $125,000 for Class 6 vehicles.
Meanwhile, the Charge Ready NY program has exhausted its current funding, which offset the cost of installing commercial transport recharging infrastructure.
Pennsylvania
Driving PA Forward – https://gis.dep.pa.gov/DrivingPAForward
This competitive grant program is seeking to assist in replacing or repowering fleets of six or more GVWR-Class 4-8 trucks and school buses, with the program prioritizing areas with high pollution levels, the total potential NOx reductions of the recipient, the size of the fleet, match contributions, cost-effectiveness, and the positive impact the program would have on the purchasing organization and the surrounding community.
EV Planning
Planning to make the switch to EV can be daunting, however, various states offer different levels of support, while additional expert advice is readily available.
Being pioneers in the EV field, SEA Electric has long-established partnerships in place with a market-leading band of ecosystem partners, who complete the picture when it comes to acquiring an EV fleet.
There are many things to consider, including:
– Configuring your vehicle – money can be saved by specifying your vehicle for your dedicated needs, including a route analysis for the intended use.
– Insurance for EV requirements.
– Electrical and infrastructure – is the power supply for your depot future-proofed for your ultimate EV fleet? Then there is charging infrastructure, other support systems such as solar panels and battery storage, or alternatively, securing the optimal power supply contracts for a given operation.
– Training – for drivers, service crews and fleet managers to get the most out of the EV vehicles.
– SEA-Connect Telematics suite – providing complete fleet feedback and information.
- Published in Articles, Driving The Change, Media Release, News
SEA Electric: New Safety Specification and Support at Brisbane Truck Show 2023
Australian all-electric truck manufacturer SEA Electric is taking the next step in its commitment to the local market at the Brisbane Truck Show, launching an expanded safety suite across the entire vehicle range, and further additions to the company’s ecosystem of support partners.
Available nationwide, the SEA Electric offering of zero-emissions trucks are available in various specifications, from 4.5t car licence models through to 22.5t three-axle rigid configurations, as manufactured at the company’s Melbourne base.
Representing the world’s first true range of all-electric trucks, the SEA 45e, SEA 85e, and SEA 225e have been configured for a wide range of final applications in addition to general dry freight, with all ancillary functions fully battery-powered, including for deployment as refuse trucks, refrigerated freight, cherry pickers, tilt trays, tippers and more.
Recent innovations from SEA Electric have included the nation’s first electric aviation refueller and the country’s first electric roadworks sweeper, amongst a range of cutting-edge designs that bring sustainability to the Australian transport fleet.
Key to the upgraded 2023 vehicle specification to be launched at the show is a full suite of functions to enhance the safety of the trucks.
Known as SEA-DAS (SEA Driver Assistance System), the standard array of features includes Vehicle Stability Control, Automatic Emergency Braking, Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Warning, Traction Control, an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), and dual airbags.
The event comes at a key time for SEA Electric, with several significant recent international announcements for the brand placing it at the forefront.
In March, the company was named as a Tier 1 supplier to Mack Trucks in the USA, while its relationship with Hino Trucks USA was expanded with confirmation that the proprietary SEA-Drive® power-system will be fitted to both the Hino Trucks’ M and L Series.
Meanwhile, in April, SEA Electric unveiled its next-generation SEA-Drive® 250 power-system, complete with an optional hydrogen range extender, aimed at the heavy-duty end of the market.
“At the 2021 Brisbane Truck Show, SEA Electric truly launched itself into the marketplace with the public unveiling of our Australian range, this year we cement our position through our upgraded safety suite and support offering,” said Tony Fairweather, SEA Electric Founder and CEO.
“We are very fortunate to have a significant head start on the competition with our all-electric SEA-Drive® power-system, which has advanced and evolved over the last decade.
“The product is now mature and proven in the field with over 3 million kilometres of real-world use registered to date across five continents.
“We are also proud to be unveiling our SEA-DAS package at the Show, which compliments the many built-in safety systems of our award-winning design, which includes inboard-mounted batteries, which lead the sector in terms of safety and improved driving dynamics.
“Following recent additions to our partner ecosystem, major international OEM announcements, and significant sales orders, it is an exciting time for the SEA Electric brand.”
Joining SEA Electric’s presence at the Brisbane Truck Show will be key ecosystem partners, who are currently working with customers to ease their transition to sustainable transport solutions.
Industry leaders, including NTI and Truck Assist, Ampol, Zurich Resilience Solutions, EnergyAustralia, Jet Charge and CarBon, have partnered with SEA Electric to guide fleets on their EV adoption path.
SEA Electric can be found at stand 57 at the Brisbane Truck Show, which runs from Thursday, May 18th, to Sunday, May 21st, at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, with the company also represented at the Southbank Truck Festival, which kicks off at Little Stanley Street from Wednesday, May 17th.
- Published in Articles, E-Range, Media Release, News, SEA-Drive, Technology
SEA Electric to Unveil Next-Gen Power-System at ACT Expo
SEA Electric, the global innovator in electric drive systems for commercial vehicles, is set to use its upcoming showcase at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo to launch the new SEA-Drive® 250 power-system, with an optional hydrogen range extender (RE), which will be ideal for heavier duty-cycles.
The SEA-Drive® 250 model (and the option RE model) is the perfect solution for vehicles with a GVWR/GCWR of up to 80,000lbs (36,250kg), in Class 8 rigid or day-cab configurations, which will be presented on the SEA Electric booth at the ACT Expo.
In a major change, SEA Electric intends to pair the power-system with a 45kW hydrogen fuel cell, extending potential range, with the architecture set to have far-reaching implications in the sector.
The new designation for the SEA-Drive® power-system joins other solutions developed by SEA Electric, namely the SEA-Drive® 70, 100, 120 and 180, which have been proven in the field with over 2 million miles of real-world use in a range of truck, bus and light commercial applications.
Featuring all of the market-leading attributes of the other systems available, the SEA-Drive® 250 will feature maximum power of 670hp (500kW) and peak torque of 4,579 lb-ft (6,200Nm), with power drawn from a 250kWh battery pack.
“The SEA-Drive® 250 RE represents a major breakthrough for SEA Electric in our efforts to electrify the world’s commercial transport fleet,” said Tony Fairweather, SEA Electric Founder and CEO.
“The power-system is perfectly suited to the rigors of lighter duty refuse collection, with the platform already proven in other deployments in the space via pure-battery powered configurations.
“For SEA Electric, this new product combination offers us the opportunity to branch out into some fantastic new areas and applications, which can now benefit from our leadership in the industry, such as day-cab and drayage tractor applications.
“In regards to the refuse industry, the SEA-Drive® 250 RE will allow us to provide a solution for 95 per cent of the market via any chassis combination.
“The combination of battery electric with the optional fuel cell extender will optimize weight and cost, whilst delivering the full fleet duty-cycle requirements, with performance that has never been seen before in this segment.
“One of the competitive advantages of the SEA-Drive® power-system is that all ancillary functions are completely electrified, with all hydraulics systems involved in the compacting and operation of the refuse body completely managed by the integrated systems.
“What this means is that noisy refuse trucks will be a thing of the past, which is sure to be welcomed by anyone living in an urban environment.”
The ACT Expo runs from May 1-4 at the Anaheim Convention Centre, while further information on SEA Electric, and the SEA-Drive® power-system is available at www.sea-electric.com.
- Published in Articles, E-Range, Media Release, News, SEA-Drive, Technology