Lightning eChassis rolling out for commercial EV applications

Lightning e-chassis all-electric van commercial EV
Dan Bennett, Lightning eMotors

Lightning eMotors announces the availability of the Lightning eChassis, an all-new rolling chassis purpose-built for commercial EV applications.

The Lightning eChassis, developed with Metalsa, will be available for Class 4 and 5 commercial electric chassis cab, stripped chassis, and cutaway chassis configurations. With the addition of the eChassis, Lightning eMotors claims it becomes the first commercial EV manufacturer that can offer both the electrification of existing OEM chassis and purpose-built commercial electric vehicles.

The company states the innovative design accommodates different battery sizes and configurations, different powertrain integrations and different wheelbases, enabling Lightning eMotors to support a wide variety of vocational applications and upfitter partners. Lightning’s eChassis also will support an increased Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of approximately 1,500 lb., more, on average, than platforms on the market today, thereby providing customers the potential to increase passenger and payload capacity for electrified ambulances, shuttle buses, delivery and refrigerated trucks and work trucks.

Lightning eMotors expects pre-production units to be available starting in the second quarter of 2022 with production units expected before the end of the year.

“This collaboration with Metalsa will allow us to serve areas of the commercial vehicle market that are currently underserved with electrification options,” says Tim Reeser, CEO and co-founder, Lightning eMotors. “Bringing this solution to the commercial EV space represents another milestone in our strategy to offer our customers purpose-built, highly-customized zero-emission vehicles that deliver superior performance at a low price.”

Metalsa is a leading provider of structural components and chassis for the automotive and commercial vehicle industries. The company says its products are built to meet and exceed the industry’s highest strength, weight, safety and quality standards. Additionally, their proven background in high-volume manufacturing means they have experience to scale up in support of growing market demand.

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“We’re thrilled to be collaborating with Lightning eMotors to design, develop, integrate and assemble this first-of-its-kind flexible chassis, purpose-built to support the growing demand in the industry,” says Joe El-Behairy, president, e-Mobility Growth Business Unit, Metalsa. “Lightning’s commitment to innovation and putting high quality vehicles on the road quickly makes them the perfect customer to introduce this product. The platform is designed to accommodate the evolving technology and ever-changing product requirements in the market. We are confident that this new rolling chassis, combined with our integration capabilities and ability to scale manufacturing rapidly, will support Lightning’s growth plans.”

At a time when the industry continues to face supply constraints, the Lightning eChassis will contribute to Lightning eMotors’ planned increase in production in 2022.

“One of the most exciting aspects of our partnership with Metalsa is the control it gives us over our chassis supply chain,” says Chelsea Ramm, vice president, Global Supply Chain, Lightning eMotors. “Constraints on the automotive supply chain have impacted the entire EV market. The Lightning eChassis provides our customers with additional options and the flexible architecture to accommodate a variety of different powertrain needs and wheelbases.”

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Hydrogen Fuel Cell & BEV Survey
The following survey was sent as a link in an email cover message in February 2023 to the newsletter lists for Overdrive and CCJ. After approximately two weeks, a total of 176 owner-operators under their own authority, 113 owner-operators leased or assigned to a carrier and 82 fleet executives and 36 fleet employees from fleets with 10 or more power units had completed and submitted the questionnaire for a total of 407 qualified responses. Cross-tabulations based on respondent type are provided for each question when applicable.
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