NATICK, MA – Last week, over 100 community members, many of whom are from the transportation industry, gathered at Lookout Farm in Natick, MA  for a zero-emission vehicle showcase + ride along event, co-hosted by CALSTART, Mass Fleet Advisor, and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) to demonstrate the breadth of available electric vehicles for sale in today’s market.

This event provided a hands-on experience with electric fleet technology, offering ride-along opportunities in a wide range of medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles, spanning from delivery vans to Class 8 trucks. Attendees spoke directly with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) representatives and local fleet owners to explore practical paths to electrification tailored to Massachusetts-based fleets.

Throughout the day, participants also learned how electric trucks are making a difference for businesses in Massachusetts. Local companies like Intelligent Labor & Moving shared insights from their own electrification journeys, while manufacturers like GM/Chevrolet, Bollinger Motors, Hino SEA electric, and Kenworth offered demos and answered technical questions about their equipment.

Ezekial Wheeler, CEO of Intelligent Labor & Moving, reflected on how the electric truck landscape has progressed, saying, “Having run electric trucks starting in 2021 I can say the equipment is ready to go if you’ve got the right routes. Buying our first electric truck in 2021 was trickier than it is now. Back then we didn’t have Mass Fleet Advisor, so we had to figure it all out on our own. There were fewer major OEMs in the space in a meaningful way, so we had less choice. It’s heartening to see the support from the state through MFA, but also so many major OEM manufacturers represented here at this event.”

Participants had the opportunity to speak with the Mass Fleet Advisor and MassCEC experts onsite about how to ease the transition to zero-emission vehicles. With these advisors and experts, they received one-on-one support for key aspects of fleet planning such as charging infrastructure, operational needs, incentive opportunities, and more.

“Mass Fleet Advisor makes it easy for Massachusetts fleets to receive free, personalized reports to aid in decision making regarding electric vehicles. Fleet advisory assistance is a valuable tool for fleet owners; through this program each fleet can learn about the electric vehicles available that can perform the necessary duty cycles of their business. The program also offers a free site assessment for charger installation sizing and provides information on available federal and state purchase incentives, all with the goal of providing actionable insights to each fleet without mandating an electric vehicle purchase,” said CALSTART’s Regional Deputy Director, Northeast, Jennifer Kritzler.

“Mass Fleet Advisor is helping medium- and heavy-duty transportation fleets across Massachusetts take meaningful steps toward affordable, cleaner, and more efficient operations,” said Jim Stanislaski, MassCEC Managing Director of Accelerating Decarbonization. “The enthusiasm at last week’s event shows that the state’s clean transportation transition is charging ahead, and it’s essential to provide fleets with clear, practical guidance along the way.”

The showcase was supported by Mass Fleet Advisor partners including DMH Electric, Alipes, and BT2, representing a collaborative statewide effort to accelerate clean transportation solutions.

Begin your journey to zero-emission vehicles by visiting Mass Fleet Advisor; for questions, contact Regional Deputy Director, Northeast, Jennifer Kritzler, at jkritzler@calstart.org.

Background on Mass Fleet Advisor:

Massachusetts is at the forefront of the electric truck revolution, implementing innovative policies and programs to expand the capabilities and accessibility of zero-emission models. With the adoption of California’s Advanced Clean Trucks rule by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection in December 2021, vehicle manufacturers are now required to increase the sale of zero-emission trucks in the state starting in model year 2025. This progressive and cost-saving move is accelerating the transition from diesel to electric trucks.

MassCEC is a state agency that supports the clean energy sector in Massachusetts, from funding research and development to creating jobs and workforce opportunities. MassCEC administers Mass Fleet Advisor and CALSTART serves as lead consultant, along with a team of partners including PowerOptions, Microgrid Labs, Industrial Economics, the Center for Sustainable Energy, BT2, Alipes, and DMH Electric.

Mass Fleet Advisor is a free technical advisory program designed for private, non-profit, and municipal light plant-serving municipalities, and provides individual, personalized electrification reports for up to 200 fleets.

About CALSTART

A mission-driven industry organization focused on transportation decarbonization and clean air for all, CALSTART has offices in New York, Michigan, Colorado, California, Florida, and Europe. CALSTART is uniquely positioned to build the national clean transportation industry by working closely with its more than 240 member companies and building on the lessons learned from the major programs it manages for the State of California. CALSTART manages more than $1 billion in vehicle incentive and technical assistance programs in the United States and is leading a global effort to build the zero-emission commercial vehicle market.

About MassCEC

Massachusetts Clean Energy Center is a state economic development agency dedicated to accelerating the growth of the clean energy and climate tech sector across the Commonwealth to spur job creation, deliver statewide environmental benefits, and secure long-term economic opportunities for the people of Massachusetts.