Milestone: Motiv Electric Trucks logs its 5 millionth electric mile
Motiv Electric Trucks may not grab all the headlines, but it’s been quietly putting electric box vans to work throughout California for the past fifteen years. And, last week, the company’s commercial EV fleet logged its five millionth all-electric mile driven.
According to Motiv’s press materials, fully 45% of the electric step vans in California today are Motive Electric Trucks. That translates to more than 370 electric vans operating daily shifts throughout the Golden State, racking up not just five million miles of all-electric driving, but racking up other big stats as well.
What kind of stats? Try these: over 300 million pounds of goods delivered, more than 15 million pounds of CO2 “saved” compared to conventional diesel, nearly a ton of PM 2.5 particulate matter, and – most crucial of all – more than 98% uptime.
That’s the kind of performance that leads to high levels of customer satisfaction, and Motiv has that, too. The company says its 200-mile range step vans lead the industry when it comes to repeat and follow-on orders, citing that since delivering its first EV in 2009, fully 64% of its new vehicle sales have been to repeat customers like Purolator, Vestis (formerly Aramark Uniform Services), Cintas, Bimbo Bakeries, and Shasta Linen Supply.
“We are very appreciative of our customers for believing in us, sharing our vision of cleaner commerce, and investing clean trucking to benefit their communities,” explains Scott Griffith, CEO of Motiv. “We’re also grateful for our employees and partners who produce such high quality and safe vehicles to make this milestone possible. We’re already looking ahead to the next 5 million miles.”
Electrek’s Take
Motiv is one of those companies that you root for. They took a huge risk when they launched in 2009, and took an even bigger risk more recently when they decided to develop their own proprietary operator cab and chassis, the Argo (prototype shown in white, above).
As much fun as all that is, though, it’s comments like these (below) that really make me hope Motiv continues to succeed – because they seem to get it.
Poor air quality caused by fossil-powered trucks disproportionally affects low-income communities and communities of color, as pollution is found in higher rates near highways, warehouses and ports, where these communities abound. Long-term exposure to poor air quality causes increased death rates attributed to cardiovascular diseases and has been linked to lung cancer.
Additionally, children who grow up in areas with high levels of pollution show reduced lung function, increased rates of asthma and lower IQ levels in their teens. Each electric mile our customers drive helps reduce these public health issues, for the benefit of everyone along the route.
When vehicle manufacturers start to look at the damage that ICEs have done, and continue to do their communities, and fess up to lasting, generational impact caused by the sort of lazy and/or corrupt government policies Americans have endured for decades, it’s hard not to think of them as “the good guys.” Here’s hoping that the good guys everywhere eventually win out.
SOURCE | IMAGES: Motive Electric Trucks.
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London-based Rho Motion just dropped the latest numbers on global EV sales for January 2025, and here’s the headline: 1.3 million electric vehicles were sold worldwide. That’s down by more than a third from December’s record-breaking numbers, but don’t let that fool you – January 2025 still saw an 18% jump compared to the same month last year.
The global picture
Global EV sales are off to a solid, if not spectacular, start in January 2025. While China’s numbers took a predictable dip post-holiday rush, Europe is picking up steam, and North America is seeing steady growth. Here’s how the major markets shook out in January:
- Global: 1.3 million EVs sold (+18% year-over-year, -35% from December 2024)
- China: 0.7 million (+12% y-o-y, -43% m-o-m)
- EU, EFTA & UK: 0.25 million (+21% y-o-y, -19% m-o-m)
- US & Canada: 0.13 million (+22% y-o-y, -28% m-o-m)
- Rest of the world: 0.13 million (+50% y-o-y, -4% m-o-m)
Rho Motion data manager Charles Lester weighed in on what’s behind these numbers:
With emission standards coming into force for European manufacturers this year, all eyes are on the opening month for the region, which shows encouraging growth at 21% compared to the same time last year.
The Chinese market, as expected, shrunk 43% from the previous month as drivers tend to go all in at the end of the year before the Chinese New Year public holidays fall in January and February.
The US and Canada market hasn’t yet been impacted by the new occupant of the White House and is showing a consistent year-on-year increase of 22%. All in all, an uncontroversial start to the year for the EV market globally, though this is not going to remain that way for long.
Europe: A strong start, but challenges ahead
The EU, EFTA, and the UK kicked off the year with a solid 21% increase, selling over 250,000 EVs in January. That’s the kind of momentum European automakers need to keep up to avoid hefty fines under the 2025 emission standards.
Germany led the charge, with EV sales jumping over 40% year-over-year, and BEVs specifically saw over 50% growth. But not every country had a smooth start. France, for example, took a big hit, with sales dropping 52% compared to December and 15% year-over-year. The reason was a new weight tax on plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) that went into effect in January, triggering a rush to buy in December before the new rules kicked in.
China: A predictable dip, but still growing
China’s EV sales were up 12% compared to last January, thanks in part to the ongoing national car trade-in scheme. However, sales dropped 43% compared to December, which is typical for this time of year. The Chinese New Year holiday always slows down vehicle sales in January and February, and with the holiday falling mostly in February this year (just like in 2024), expect another weak month before numbers pick up again.
US & Canada: A steady climb with uncertainty ahead
North America saw a solid 22% jump in EV sales compared to January 2024, with 130,000 units sold. However, that’s still a 28% drop from the December 2024 rush.
Despite concerns over Trump’s return to the White House, the federal EV tax credit – up to $7,500 – is still available for many BEVs and one PHEV. However, the requirements got tougher in 2025, with stricter sourcing rules for critical EV battery materials. Some EV models lost their eligibility, and that’s expected to put some pressure on the market as the year unfolds.
Read more: BYD’s overseas sales surged to a new record as its global EV plans kick into high gear
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Kia’s electric sports car will smoke a Ferrari and Lamborghini off the line, and it’s already less than half the cost. Now, Kia’s 576 horsepower EV6 GT is even cheaper to drive with nearly $20,000 in lease savings. Here’s how you can get your hands on one.
The EV6 GT arrived in 2022 as the “most powerful Kia production vehicle ever.” With up to 576 horsepower, Kia’s electric sports car can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds.
Kia went all out, adding fun features and different drive modes, such as “GT” and “drift.” The GT drive mode adjusts the vehicle’s motor, brakes, steering, suspension, and more for better performance.
To prove its power, Kia put its EV sports car up against a Ferrari Roma and Lamborghini Huracan EVO Spyder. Certified by an independent test from AMCI, the Kia EV6 GT beat both off the line. Not only is the Kia faster, but it’s also about half the cost.
The 2024 Kia EV6 GT starts at $61,600. A 2024 Ferrari Roma will run you about $245,000, while a new 2024 Lamborghini Huracan EVO Spyder starts at just over $300,000.
According to online car research firm CarsDirect, the 2024 Kia EV6 GT now features $19,050 in lease cash (24-month lease). With the option of Single Pay leases, you can also score lower lease rates.
If you’re looking for something with a little less performance (and a lower price), Kia is offering $10,000 in Customer Cash on all 2024 EV6 models. The EV6 Light Long Range RWD ($45,950 MSRP) is listed for lease at just $179 for 24 months, with $3,499 due upfront.
The discounts come with the new 2025 model year arriving, which has an even longer driving range (319 miles Kia-est) and an NACS port for charging at Tesla Superchargers. The new EV6 GT trim will also pull additional features from Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 N, including a Virtual Gear Shift (VGS) function.
Want to get behind the wheel of Kia’s electric sports car and test it out for yourself? You can use our link to find the best deals on the 2024 Kia EV6 (including the GT model) near you.
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