RANCHO DOMINGUEZ — Evolectric, a Long Beach-launched startup that converts diesel truck to run on electric power, opened a new headquarters and production facility last week in the Dominguez Hills Industrial Park in Rancho Dominguez.
In a grand opening ceremony on April 12, both Long Beach Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jeremy Harris and Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson’s community relations manager Jeff Williams said that Long Beach would continue to claim Evolectric as its own, particularly with the work it is doing with the Port of Long Beach to reduce air emissions through the conversion of legacy delivery trucks to new, clean energy technology. Co-founders Bill Beverley and Jakson Alvarez moved in March from the company’s first home on Artesia Boulevard in Long Beach.
Evolectric began gaining traction in 2020, when Beverley and Alvarez became part of the first cohort at the Long Beach Accelerator, a partnership started by Sunstone Management, Inc., the Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Cal State Long Beach, and the city of Long Beach. The cofounders had experience in battery technology and electrified transportation, and said they believed that they could reduce carbon emissions by converting existing power trains to run on battery power. The non-profit Long Beach Accelerator helped the young startup connect with resources they needed to build their business in the city, Beverly said in a 2022 interview.
“We are thrilled to inaugurate our new headquarters, which represents a pivotal moment in Evolectric’s journey,” Beverley said. “With this state-of-the-art facility, we are poised to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles and drive meaningful change in the transportation landscape.”
Last year, Evolectric received approval of its Circular-EV™ conversion kit, which allows switching medium duty trucks from diesel to electric in as little as 48 hours. The technology is already being used by fleet owners internationally, specifically in Mexico City, where chassis often are used past the life of the engine, according to a Grupo Modelo Mexico official speaking via the internet. See https://evolectricnow.com/.
Another version of the Circular-EV™ technology is being installed on a new Hyundai medium duty chassis, along with Evolectric’s smart technology, which provides performance data feedback. TCI, a trucking leasing and rental company with locations nationwide, participated in a pilot program and was so impressed it has already ordered 10 trucks, said John Sappington, TCI’s executive vice president for sales and marketing.
“The technology has developed so the power plant is lighter than most,” Sappington said. “That increases the potential payload. We are excited to get it out in the field – I hope we can get up to 50 trucks on the road in the next year. I hope you make me make that order!”
Evolectric already has qualified for the HVIP voucher program through the state of California, where fleets can receive purchase credits from $8,000 to $45,000 for electric vehicles. Niki Okuk from the nonprofit CalStart, attended the grand opening, and said she looks forward to helping Evolectric and its clients with more money down the road.
“I’m really excited to give free money to programs like this,” Okuk said. “These vehicles have been brought to market close to cost parity, with fuel savings each month. And the Air Quality Control Board loves it!”
John Keisler, CEO of Sunstone Management, Inc., said at the grand opening that Evolectric is the model for a successful startup taking full advantage of the public-private-education partnership.
“This is public policy becoming reality,” he said. “We want to work with Evolectric and others to unlock capital through government programs that seek to make the economy and the environment work better for everyday Californians. This is a perfect example of the private sector providing solutions that lower the cost to customers, improve outcomes for the community, and help achieve big long-term climate goals.”
Evolectric’s new home boasts 18,000 square feet of space, a work floor with a 24-foot-high ceiling and high-tech office space. There is also room for warehousing conversion kits and kit parts.1
“As we embark on this new chapter, we remain steadfast in our mission to make electric vehicles accessible and sustainable for all,” cofounder and co-CEO Jakson Alvarez said. “The grand opening of our headquarters signifies not only our growth but also our unwavering dedication to driving positive change for generations to come.”
For more information, visit the Evolectric website, evolectricnow.com.
Contacts
Jennifer Huang
Sunstone Management
(562) 732-0617
Jennifer.huang@sunstoneinvestment.com