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Electric vehicle charging and battery storage specialists Zenobē have inked a deal with Canadian leasing company 7Gen to fund more than 500 commercial EVs and their associated charging infrastructure.

Last week, Zenobē agreed to provide up to $48 million (Canadian) in debt financing to 7Gen to help expand its vehicle-as-a-service electric truck leasing program across Canada.

7Gen supports fleet operators with a comprehensive set of vehicle leasing and financing solutions that cover EV charger deployment, energy management systems, and ongoing operational support for Canadian fleet customers operating electric trucks, vans, and school buses.

Zenobē secured $1.6 billion in equity from its joint majority shareholders KKR and M&G Infracapital to fuel its global expansion into EVs and grid-scale batteries back in 2023. Since then, it’s grown to support more than 2,000 EVs and 120 charging depots across markets in the UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

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We’re bringing our innovative funding approach to Canada and specifically to 7Gen,” says Steven Meersman, Co-Founder and Director of Zenobē. “We see momentum behind decarbonization in Canada’s supportive government policies and the clean, affordable power that will ensure a lower total cost of ownership for zero-emissions vehicles. We look forward to sharing our global experience electrifying over 120 depots to benefit 7Gen, its fleet customers and the wider electric fleet market in Canada.”

That innovative funding strategy is something Steven and I had a chance to discuss this week at the ACT Expo in Anaheim, California. “We’re being very careful in the way we approach the North American market,” he said (paraphrasing). “The market is fairly littered with the graves of other UK EV companies that have tried to find a foothold here and failed, so we’re being very careful about our partners.”

Despite living just a few minutes from his Chicago HQ, I’d never met Steven before this week. He’s a super-interesting guy and you will definitely learn a thing or two about how to build a multimillion dollar energy management company like Zenobē from our upcoming podcast (stay tuned for that). But the news here is 7Gen.

“Zenobē’s debt financing supports 7Gen’s next growth step and allows us to help our customers step up the pace of their EV adoption and benefit immediately from operational cost savings,” says Frans Tjallingii, CEO, 7Gen. “Zenobē’s team is well aligned with ours and we are thrilled to partner to scale our impact in Canada together.”

The company will begin rolling out its Zenobē-funded electric trucks in the coming weeks, with new partners and projects set to be announced shortly.

SOURCE | IMAGES: Zenobē.


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Honda takes a page from Tesla playbook, launches new insurance business

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Honda takes a page from Tesla playbook, launches new insurance business

Say what you will about Elon Musk, but Tesla has changed the way that millions of people buy cars and, by extension, car insurance. Now, Honda is taking a page from Tesla’s successful playbook and launching its own in-house insurance business. Enter: Honda Insurance Solutions.

Honda Insurance Solutions is being launched as a fully licensed insurance agency serving the insurance needs of Acura and Honda customers, but it’s not stopping at competitive pricing and coverage options for Honda cars and motorcycles. Honda Insurance Solutions promises to go several steps beyond Tesla’s offering with coverage for trailers, RVs, homes, and even pets.

“Honda Insurance Solutions offers customers access to coverage through a brand they know and trust,” says Petar Vucurevic, President, American Honda Insurance Solutions, LLC and Senior Vice President, American Honda Finance Corporation. “Insurance is a key touchpoint in the vehicle ownership journey, and we aim to deliver a superior experience tailored to the unique needs of each customer, while promoting safer driving and increased peace of mind on the road.”

The company says the launch of its new insurance business is just part of Honda’s broader digital vehicle sales platform strategy, with future plans to integrate insurance offerings into new products.

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Electrek’s Take


Electric CUVE scooter; via Honda.

It’s important to note some of the key differences between Honda’s insurance offering and Tesla’s. Honda isn’t offering discounts, they’re not bundling insurance premiums into the vehicle financing, and they’re not building their insurance offerings into their dealerships’ checkout/F&I offices. Not yet, anyway.

What Honda is doing right now is deepening relationships with its existing customers and finding ways to make money on products it hasn’t sold them – whether that’s the Harley parked in the garage next to their Prologue or the garage itself.

It’s a smart play. And, once Honda figures out a way to cut franchise dealers out entirely and go to a direct sales model, it’ll look even smarter.

SOURCE | IMAGES: Honda.


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Lion Electric school bus warranties voided, leaving districts stuck

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Lion Electric school bus warranties voided, leaving districts stuck

Nobody ever says “this is business” before doing something nice, and the recently reborn Lion Electric company is keeping that streak alive by doing the unthinkable to cut costs: they’re going to void the warranties on hundreds of electric school buses.

In a letter issued to exiting Lion Electric customers last week, Deloitte Restructuring announced that the warranties on all Lion vehicles purchased outside of the company’s home Province of Quebec are null and void – leaving dozens of school districts in the lurch with stranded assets that won’t get fixed, and can’t be sold to generate funds for replacements.

“We are working with alternate vendors at the expense of the school district to help keep our electric buses functional and on the road,” explains Dr. Richard Decman, Superintendent of Herscher CUSD No. 2 district in Herscher, Illinois. “Currently, six of our 25 (Lion) electric buses need some type of repair.”

Student Transportation News reports that Lion buses represent fully half of Herscher’s overall fleet of 50 buses, and that the district has received nearly $10 million for the purchase of 25 electric buses and the related charging stations from various state and utility incentive programs.

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Herscher isn’t the only district having problems with Lion buses. “All four Lion buses that we own are currently parked and not being used,” Coleen Souza, interim transportation director of Winthrop Public Schools, told Clean Trucking. “Two of them are in need of repairs which would cost us money which we are not willing to invest in because the buses do not run for more than a month before needing more repairs.”

More of the same in Maine, where Yarmouth School Department bought two Lion Electric buses in 2023 with the state covering the costs. According to Superintendent Andrew Dolloff, the buses almost never worked. “We’ve had some sporadic service over the past two years, but as soon as the tech leaves, the buses produce error codes again,” explained Dolloff. ” and “Then the technician quits or is released, and we wait a few months for the next response.”

Dolloff added that Yarmouth’s electric buses did not operate during the 2024-25 school year.

Lion’s new owners are seemingly uninterested in their customers’ plight – which might be easily dismissed if those new owners, Groupe MACH, weren’t also the old owners of Lion Electric.

That’s right, kids. Quebec-based real estate company Groupe MACH, which stepped in to “save” Lion Electric earlier this summer, along with Ontario-based Mirella & Lino Saputo Foundation, bought $90 million of equity in Lion Electric back in 2023. And, while the MACH people may not have been the ones who ultimately made the call about voiding the warranties (that decision was made by the Deloitte bankruptcy team), it is absolutely Group MACH who have, to date, not announced plans to continue to honor those warranties, either.

Make of that what you will.

Deloitte Lion letter


SOURCES: School Transportation News, Clean Trucking, Deloitte.


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The Retrospec Beaumont Rev 2 might be the most stylish eBike for under $1K [Video]

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The Retrospec Beaumont Rev 2 might be the most stylish eBike for under $1K [Video]

We recently had the opportunity to test out Retrospec’s Beaumont Rev 2 electric bike. This Class 2 electric city bike is as stylish as it is functional. Despite its streamlined design, the Beaumont Rev 2 is sneaky fast with quality components throughout. Be sure to check out our full video review below.

Our latest product review came through Retrospec – a veteran micromobility company dedicated to delivering affordable, high-quality, adventure-ready eBikes without compromising performance or style.

According to Retrospec, its products aim to “make nature second nature” by offering accessible, high-quality gear that encourages people of all ages and abilities to enjoy the outdoors to “make nature second nature” by providing accessible, high-quality gear that encourages people of all ages and abilities to enjoy the outside world.

Designed for adventure and built to last, Retrospec prides itself on delivering mobility products look great, perform flawlessly, and stand up to the test of time. A fine example of this company ethos is the Beaumont Rev 2 electric city bike.

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The Beaumont Rev 2 has already gone viral as Retrospec’s number one best seller. It initially caught our eye because it combines a stylish vintage look of classic bicycles with modern tech to cruise quickly and easily.

We recently had an opportunity to take one of these eBikes out and have plenty to say about it.

Upon first ride, you can’t ignore the classic style of this eBike, which looks and feels super light, similar to a conventional bicycle. However, with one press of the throttle, you get a feel for the function and versatility of the Beaumont Rev 2, which was designed by Retrospec specifically for city riding.

The bike’s powerful rear hub motor is supported by a Shimano MegaRange drivetrain that can easily be switched between seven different gears with your right hand.

The electric motor offers five different levels of electric pedal assist and an easy-to-use throttle on the left handlebar (pictured below). As a Class 2 eBike, the Beaumont Rev 2 can cruise to assisted speeds as high as 20 mph. The bike itself is powered by a UL2849-Certified Battery that offers riders a range of up to 38 miles on a single charge.

If you encounter dirt or debris on your journey, you’re protected by full-wrap front and rear fenders. Other features of the Retrospec Beaumont Rev 2 include front and rear lights, a rear cargo rack, and Tektro mechanical disc brakes (pictured above).

Combined with the padded saddle seat and swingback handlebars, the Beaumont Rev 2 is as comfortable and supportive of a ride as it is functional.

As an urban-style e-bike, the Beaumont Rev 2 isn’t necessarily built for off-road riding, but as you’ll see in the video below, there were a couple of times I cut through some grassy terrain to get on and off the bike path, and the bike fared just fine.

I truly enjoyed the smooth comfort of this unique, Euro-style step-through bike thanks to its wide, high-volume city tires. It also feels like it rides a lot faster than 20 mph due to its light frame and best-in-class powertrain components.

While the Beaumont Rev 2 comes with the above mentioned accessories, Retrospec sells many compatible add-on components, including helmets, baskets, trailers, bike bags & panniers, air pumps, and car racks. In addition to the Beaumont Rev 2, Retrospec offers a growing lineup of all-electric city bikes. We highly recommend checking those out to find the right bike for you.

Retrospec also offers a range of other eBike categories, including fat tire electric bikes, electric beach cruiser bikes, electric commuter bikes, electric trikes, and more. All Retrospec eBikes are UL2849 certified, feature sleek and stylish designs, and employ the most modern eBike technology to make riding an absolute blast. Check out the full lineup here.

If you’re interested in riding in style on Retrospec’s best-selling Beaumont Rev 2 eBike, you can purchase one here. This blend of classic and modern is available for just under $1,000, making it one of the most affordable options in its class.

To learn more about this stylish electric city bike, be sure to check out our full video review below.

Buy the Retrospec Beaumont Rev 2

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