LONG BEACH, CA - Electric Vehicles International (EVI), a manufacturer of commercial electric vehicles, announced it will be demonstrating its "Road Ready" commercial vehicle at Faster Freight - Cleaner Air (FFCA California), held this week at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, Calif., March 23-25.  Having recently completed its launch into the U.S., EVI offers the first pure electric and hybrid electric Class 3-6 commercial trucks available in the U.S., which are in full compliance with stringent federal and state regulatory requirements for their respective weight classes.

"We are very happy to bring EVI back to California, the state where EVI was founded, and a state dedicated to clean transportation.  Both the popular and political support in California, specifically for electrifying fleets, is a great model for the rest of the country," said Art Robins, vice president of U.S. Operations for Electric Vehicles International (EVI).  "As an alternative to gasoline-centered transportation, fleet managers who adopt EVs and HEVs will see immediate results.  For communities as well, the corollary effects of EV adoption can improve the quality of people's lives-in terms of cleaner air, quieter streets and more freedom in energy decisions."

The recently passed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 includes a number of financial incentives for EVs that can range from $7,500 to $15,000 per vehicle. In addition, a number of other incentives and subsidies are available in California including the following: 

• As funded by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and administered by the California Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE), up to $1.62 million will have been dispensed by March 31, 2009 for vehicle incentive rebates in the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Incentive Program.

• The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) offers an EV discount of $0.025/kWh for charging, and provides EV-infrastructure services to help customers determine applications for EVs in fleet operations, EV maintenance services and training. 

As well, CARB recently passed a new regulation to reduce emissions from existing on-road diesel vehicles operating in California, reducing particulate matter, which is a toxic contaminant, by 80 percent in 2020 from 2000 levels; removing 124 tons per day of NOx, the major contributor to smog, by 2014; preventing about 9,400 deaths; and saving 950,000 work loss days, as estimated by CARB.

Within this supportive political climate, EVs have become viable, especially for short-range delivery or "back to base" vehicles.  In addition to the two commercial truck models, eviLightTruck and the eviRoute 1500, that EVI manufactures, the company has developed a cutting-edge drive train and offers engineering services including conversions to HEVs. 

All of EVI's vehicles, which are presently available to the U.S. market, are "Road Ready" Glider Chassis, are assembled in the U.S. and have met all of the compliance requirements of Title 49 of the DOT's CFR.  EVI's motors and controllers are built in the U.S. and the trucks' patented lithium phosphate batteries are supplied by Valence Technology, an international manufacturer and supplier of safe lithium phosphate energy storage solutions based in Austin, Texas.  EVI can deliver their products within 60 days of their order.

As part of the company's U.S. launch, EVI is participating in several leading industry events including the recent Work Truck Show in Chicago, IL and Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky., along with the upcoming Alternative Fuels & Vehicle Conference in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.