Mullen’s electric trucks earn CARB certification, qualifying for over $45k in customer savings
Seven months after kicking off production of its Class 3 electric trucks in Mississippi, EV startup Mullen Automotive has secured fruitful environmental compliance and approvals from CARB and the EPA. As a result, those CARB-compliant states and Washington DC enable tremendous savings to fleet operators who purchase electric trucks from Mullen.
2023 was an interesting year for Mullen Automotive ($MULN) as the veteran EV startup took significant strides in expanding its commercial EV operations after claiming a majority stake in Bollinger Motors in September of 2022 and wholly acquiring ELMS and its IP one month later.
Since then, we saw Mullen commence production of its THREE Class 3 electric trucks in Tunica, Mississippi – a site that is also home to the production of its ONE Class 1 electric vans, which recently began deliveries.
Despite noted efforts to expand commercial EV development and sales to fund its passenger vehicle program, Mullen faced several financial hurdles, including the threat of Nasdaq delisting> In May of 2022, Mullen completed a 1-for-25 reverse stock split, followed by a 1-for-9 reverse split in August, but still fell below the $1 threshold to remain compliant on the stock market.
As of January 2024, however, Mullen is back well beyond the dollar threshold as its stock was trading over $7 at market open this morning. While it sits in a better place financially, Mullen looks to bolster its electric van and truck deliveries in the US and has gained the necessary certification to enable tens of thousands of dollars in state incentives for specific commercial customers.
Mullen electric truck joins Class 1 van in CARB certification
Per Mullen, its THREE all-electric Class 3 low cab forward chassis truck has officially received certification from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) as well as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The electric truck now joins Mullen’s Class 1 van in dual certification, as well as full compliance with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), thus qualifying for state incentives for those 15 territories that are CARB compliant:
- California
- Connecticut
- Colorado
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
Following CARB certification, Mullen says it can begin selling the THREE electric trucks in all 50 states plus D.C., starting at a suggested MSRP of $68,500. However, only the commercial customers in those 14 CARB-compliant states plus D.C. can take advantage of the total incentives for buying zero-emissions vehicles – rebates that can go as high as $45,000 per truck.
Mullen also points out that combined with the $7,500 federal tax credit, commercial customers can purchase a new THREE electric truck at a net cost below $20,000. Mullen chairman and CEO David Michery spoke:
CARB approval accelerates commercialization of the Mullen THREE and makes our vehicle even more appealing to customers who want to electrify their fleets. Having both our Class 1 and Class 3 commercial EVs now CARB and EPA certified will continue to drive sales in all states across America.
THREE deliveries were originally expected to begin last summer, but with ONE van deliveries now underway and THREE CARB certification in place, electric truck sales and fleet deliveries finally feel imminent.
Electrek’s take
Mullen had an up-down year in 2023, but it’s good to see it compliant after some stock issues, lawsuits, and lots of finger-pointing. The startup is making a name for itself in the commercial sector, which is encouraging.
Granted, Mullen is manufacturing and selling intellectual property it purchased from other companies, but it is currently the only company delivering Class 1 electric vans if I’m not mistaken. I’m still not convinced Mullen’s passenger EV business is anything more than vapor, but continued sales and deliveries in the commercial space could prove lucrative and help fund that R&D in the future.
Or, and I’m just spitballin’ here, Mullen may find its niche in commercial EVs and focus its entire business model around developing those products. We shall see. Either way, it’s refreshing to see this company delivering EVs, and thanks to CARB, those potential savings could prove mighty enticing to fleet operators in the US.
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Spring is here, and that means it’s pool season prep time! There’s no better way to kickstart your spring cleaning than with the Beatbot AquaSense 2 Series—the ultimate robotic cleaner designed to effortlessly prepare your pool for sunny days ahead.
Beatbot is inviting pool owners everywhere to “Spring Forward, Clean to Perfection” with up to 20% off the AquaSense 2 Series – Ultra, Pro, and Standard. The limited-time offer is available from March 17 through March 31 on Beatbot’s official website and Amazon store. Read on to find out how Beatbot can keep your pool in prime condition, and don’t miss out on this fantastic discount.
Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra
Headlining Beatbot AquaSense 2 Series is the premium AquaSense 2 Ultra, a pool-cleaning powerhouse that sets a new standard in smart cleaning technology. It’s packed with cutting-edge features designed to make your pool maintenance not only easier but smarter and more thorough than ever before.
At the heart of the AquaSense 2 Ultra is the revolutionary HybridSense AI Pool Mapping technology. This isn’t your average robotic cleaner – it uses an AI camera alongside ultrasonic and infrared sensors to create a precise map of your pool. No matter your pool’s shape or layout, the Ultra intelligently plots the most efficient cleaning path, ensuring every inch – from floor to walls, waterline, and even the water’s surface – is spotless. Plus, with the Beatbot app, you can easily track cleaning progress and view detailed cleaning maps in real time.
Say goodbye to juggling multiple pool-cleaning devices—the AquaSense 2 Ultra delivers unmatched convenience with its unique 5-in-1 cleaning system. This robotic marvel tackles everything: water surface, waterline, floor, walls, and even a ClearWater Clarification System. Powered by an industry-first 11-motor submarine propulsion system, it transitions effortlessly between floating and diving, guaranteeing complete and comprehensive coverage every time.
Never worry about overlooked debris again. The Ultra’s Advanced AI Cruise Debris Detection system scans your pool after the initial clean, intelligently identifying and removing any stragglers like leaves. Its AI-driven camera and sensors continually learn and improve, recognizing different leaf types such as oak, maple, palm, and more. The result is an impressively thorough clean that traditional robots simply can’t match.
And when it comes to effortless pool management, the AquaSense 2 Ultra truly shines. With dual side brushes designed to sweep debris directly into the cleaner’s path, even pool corners and edges get pristine cleaning. Plus, the Beatbot app’s advanced navigation control lets you manually steer the AquaSense 2 Ultra across the water’s surface, making spot cleaning both precise and fun.
Finally, retrieval is easier than ever with Beatbot’s exclusive Smart Water Surface Parking technology. When cleaning finishes, or battery life falls below 15%, the AquaSense 2 Ultra autonomously returns to the pool edge, floats to the surface, and automatically releases water to make retrieval lighter and effortless. If it drifts, simply use the app’s one-touch retrieval button to bring it back to you.
The Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra is normally priced at $3,450 and is 15% off until March 31.
The AquaSense 2 Pro
The Beatbot AquaSense 2 Pro takes pool cleaning convenience to the next level with the 5-in-1 cleaning system. Featuring Beatbot’s exclusive ClearWater Clarification System and Smart Water Surface Parking, the AquaSense 2 Pro ensures every inch of your pool stays spotless with minimal effort on your part. Powered by nine precision-engineered motors, including dual floating chamber motors and surface propeller motors, it delivers exceptional maneuverability and efficiency.
Plus, the AquaSense 2 Pro offers smart app-based control for targeted surface cleaning, backed by a robust 13,400 mAh battery capable of up to 11 hours of surface cleaning or five hours of cleaning floors, walls, and waterlines. With AquaSense 2 Pro, maintaining a pristine pool has never been simpler.
The Beatbot AquaSense 2 Pro is usually priced at $2,499 and is 15% off until March 31.
Beatbot AquaSense 2
The Beatbot AquaSense 2 delivers powerful, reliable cleaning performance, combining advanced technology with user-friendly convenience. Equipped with a robust 200W brushless main pump motor, this 3-in-1 robotic cleaner effortlessly tackles floors, walls, and waterlines, providing full coverage with optimized path navigation and impressive 5500 GPH suction power.
Its innovative double-pass waterline scrubbing system thoroughly removes grime, leaving your pool spotless after every cycle. Ideal for pools of all sizes, including larger ones, the AquaSense 2 features a high-capacity battery that powers up to four hours of continuous floor cleaning.
Plus, its intuitive navigation and powerful suction provides stable, efficient cleaning on vertical surfaces and hard-to-reach areas. With AquaSense 2, a pristine pool is easy to achieve, so you can spend more time swimming and less time maintaining it.
The Beatbot AquaSense 2 is typically priced at $1,499 and is 20% off until March 31.
Spring forward into sparkling perfection – grab the AquaSense 2 model that best fits your needs today for up to 20% off and experience the ultimate pool-cleaning upgrade.
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Environment
Toyota the EV battery supplier? Honda will use them to power up its 400,000 hybrids in the US
Toyota is now a battery supplier? That’s the plan. Honda will use Toyota’s batteries to power up its around 400,000 hybrids sold in the US.
Toyota will supply batteries for Honda hybrids in the US
Toyota’s $14 billion battery plant in North Carolina is ready for business. The facility will begin shipping out batteries next month, and it looks like Toyota already has its first customer.
According to a new Nikkei report, starting in fiscal 2025, Toyota will supply batteries for the roughly 400,000 Honda hybrids sold in the US.
Honda currently uses batteries from China and Japan for vehicles sold in the US, but the company is (like most) preparing for changes under Trump.
Honda’s electrified vehicles, including EVs and hybrids, accounted for over a quarter of US sales last year. The company sold over 308,500 hybrids and 40,400 electric vehicles in the US in 2024. The batteries will likely be used in the CR-V and other Honda hybrid vehicles.
Earlier this month, an extra 10% tariff on imports from China took effect. And that’s on top of the 10% imposed in February.
With more expected, including a 25% increase in vehicles imported from Japan, automakers are tightening up their supply chains.
A 25% tariff on Japanese vehicles, up from 2.5% currently, is estimated to cost the six major Japanese automakers about $20 billion in the US.
Tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada could cost Honda roughly $4.7 billion alone. Teaming up with Toyota to use its batteries for its hybrids is part of Japan’s broader global plans to ween off dependence on China and others for batteries and other emerging tech.
The new US plant, Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina (TBMC), is over seven million square feet, or about the size of 121 football fields.
As Toyota’s first in-house battery factory outside of Japan, the plant could be a game changer as Trump’s tariffs take effect. Securing Honda as a buyer will already help Toyota cut costs as it ramps up output.
Toyota plans to ramp up electrified vehicle (EV, PHEV, and hybrid) sales in North America from around 40% last year to 80% by 2030.
Electrek’s Take
Trump’s tariffs are already causing havoc, with nearly every automaker warning that they put the US further behind. Overseas automakers are not the only ones feeling the heat, either.
The “Big Three,” GM, Ford, and Jeep maker Stellantis all build vehicles in Canada and Mexico. GM cut output at its plant in Mexico in January, where the electric Chevy Equinox, Blazer, and Honda Prologue are made. Stellantis halted operations at its Brampton Assembly Plant in Canada last month, where it was expected to launch the Jeep Compass EV production. What’s next?
For Toyota, it looks like its $14 billion bet to build batteries in the US is already paying off. Now, we just need it to introduce more EVs.
After unveiling three new electric SUVs in Europe last week, including the updated bZ4X, Toyota hinted more is on the way for the US. Check back soon for updates.
What do you think? Do you want to see more Toyota EVs in the US, like the new C-HR+? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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