In August 2023 Proterra filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. In November 2023 Volvo Group has been selected as the highest bidder in an auction for the business and assets of the Proterra Powered unit, at a purchase price of $210 million. As a results of this, former Proterra activities will be integrated in Volvo Group as concerning battery business and Phoenix Motocars when it comes to transit activities.

Phoenix Motor takes over Proterra transit business line

Phoenix Motor and Proterra have entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 13, 2023. Under the Purchase Agreement, Phoenix Motor states, “the total cash consideration to be paid by Phoenix for the Proterra Transit business assets will be $10 million, consisting of $3.5 million for the Proterra Transit operating company and $6.5 million for the Proterra battery lease assets. In addition, Phoenix will pay certain cure payments and assume other liabilities, primarily warranties”.

The companies will seek U.S. Bankruptcy Court approval for the sale on November 28, 2023, and, if approved, plan to close as soon as is reasonably practical thereafter.

“Phoenix is delighted with the opportunity to acquire the Proterra Transit business. Proterra has built a strong market share in the full-size, zero-emission transit bus market, just as Phoenix has done in the medium-duty market. We are excited about the attractive business synergy and growth opportunities as we add a full suite of transit bus offerings to our fleet customers across North America,” said Denton Peng, CEO of Phoenix Motorcars. “In addition, Phoenix has been gaining positive momentum in the electric school bus market, and we see considerable growth opportunities as we add full-size buses to our existing lineup of Type-A school buses to help school districts shift to zero-emission buses and begin improving the air quality for their students and communities utilizing our American made school buses.”

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Located on a 3.5-acre campus in Newark, California, the facility is equipped to charge up to 40 electric motorcoaches with 20 dual-cable EV charging dispensers and can support up to 1.4 megawatts of EV charging power. The facility enables enhanced service, delivery, training and support for the growing number of Proterra Powered Van Hool 100% electric motorcoaches, which are powered by Proterra’s battery technology.

ABC Companies – Proterra electric motor coach charging park

Developed in collaboration with EV charging and battery partner, Proterra, and local utility provider, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E, whose PG&E’s EV Fleet program focuses on accelerating EV adoption for commercial customers via comprehensive construction support and financial incentives), the ABC Companies charging facility demonstrates that both the power and charging solutions are available to meet fleet operators’ needs to scale their commercial EV operations.

“As the largest passenger motorcoach dealer in North America, we are going beyond selling and supporting these vehicles, as we educate, demonstrate, and invest in zero emissions commercial transportation, to accelerate EV adoption. In under 2 years, over 20% of our motorcoach sales are now battery-electric vehicles. However, the rapid growth in our commercial EV sales requires a corresponding charging infrastructure capable of handling the size and power requirements of these vehicles. Therefore, ABC has chosen to invest strategically to support the vehicles already in operation. Through partnerships with industry leaders, we proudly complete our EV Ecosystem, supporting and sustaining e-mobility, while serving our customers and their communities” stated Roman Cornell, CEO of ABC Companies.

“Proterra is driven by innovation and sustainability,” said Chris Bailey, Proterra’s Chief Business Officer. “From batteries and vehicles to chargers and software, our unique technology ecosystem is providing our partners with high-performing EVs and charging solutions to power them. With over a decade of experience within the electrification industry, our team knows the only successful way for fleet operators to scale their commercial fleets is through strategic planning and collaboration. The collaboration among Proterra, ABC Companies, and PG&E’s EV Fleet Program was key to the launch of this innovative charging facility.”

“PG&E is proud to support the coach vehicle electrification efforts of ABC Companies through the EV Fleet Program,” said Lydia Krefta, PG&E’s Director for Clean Energy Transportation. “This project aligns with our core focus of proactively preparing the grid for the future, increasing access to charging infrastructure, and supporting electric transportation adoption through rates, rebates, tools, and education. PG&E is committed to providing simple and affordable clean transportation programs and incentives that help redefine the energy landscape to support California’s clean air and greenhouse gas emission reduction goals and collective action on climate change.”

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Prior to joining Proterra, David Black served as a Special Advisor to the CEO of BWX Technologies, a leading supplier of nuclear components and fuel to the U.S. government, from November 2021 until his retirement in March 2022, and prior to that as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of BWX Technologies from July 2015 to November 2021, as summed up by Proterra itself. Mr. Black also served as Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer and in other roles at The Babcock & Wilcox Company, an international energy technology company headquartered in the United States, from 1991 to 2015.

David Black replaces Karina Padilla in Proterra

“Karina Padilla, the Company’s current CFO, will step down from her role effective May 15, 2023. Ms. Padilla will remain with the Company as a non-executive officer employee through June 2, 2023 and will work closely with Mr. Black to support a smooth transition of responsibilities”, Proterra states.

“David is a seasoned finance executive with deep leadership experience. We are fortunate to welcome someone with his skillset to our Company as we work to meet the exciting opportunities ahead for commercial vehicle electrification,” said Proterra CEO Gareth Joyce. “We are also very thankful to Karina for her dedication and commitment to our company’s mission, and wish her well as she embarks on a new chapter.”

“Proterra has a proven track record of innovation and achievement within the commercial vehicle market. I’m excited to join Proterra as the demand for heavy-duty electric vehicles and batteries continues to rise, and look forward to working with the entire Proterra team,” said David Black.

“It has been an honor to contribute to Proterra’s mission and work with the talented team of people across the organization. I’m confident that Proterra will continue to play a leading role as commercial vehicles accelerate towards electrification,” said Karina Padilla.

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As president of Proterra Transit, “Julian Soell will oversee Proterra’s growing business as the leading manufacturer of electric transit buses in North America. In his role, Julian will report directly to Proterra’s Chief Executive Officer Gareth Joyce”, Proterra says in a press note announcing the appointment.

Proterra has over 800 vehicles on the road today in North America. Proterra recently announced that starting in 2023, the 40-foot Proterra ZX5 Max electric transit bus can be equipped with up to 738 kilowatt hours (kWh) of onboard energy.

Julian Soell new president at Proterra Transit

The group adds that Julian brings nearly 30 years of automotive and operational experience to Proterra and joins the company after most recently serving as Chief Operating Officer at Repairify, a high-growth global leader in automotive service, technology and business insights solutions. Previously, he held engineering leadership roles at automotive companies including Mercedes Benz USA and Harley-Davidson Motor Company. Outside of the automotive industry, Julian has also held large operational and customer service roles at Delta Air Lines.

Julian Soell holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Lehigh University, a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Ohio State University, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan.

“Julian brings a wealth of operational and customer service experience to Proterra and we are thrilled to welcome him to our team. Public transit is at the forefront of electrification. Under Julian’s leadership, we look forward to building on Proterra Transit’s strong foundation to further scale our production and deliver industry-leading EV fleet solutions to help transit agencies achieve their zero-emission goals,” said Gareth Joyce, Proterra CEO.

“I’m delighted to join Proterra at this incredibly exciting and important moment for transportation electrification. I want my kids and their kids to be able to see the world as I have or even better; with clean air, sustainable energy and a bright future for us all. I look forward to working with the Proterra Transit team, our transit agency customers and partners to advance this essential work,” said Julian Soell.

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Roger Nielsen fills the vacancy on the Proterra board created by the departure of John F. Erhard of ArcLight Capital.  

“Having worked with the Proterra team during my time at Daimler, I’ve seen first-hand how Proterra is transforming commercial vehicles with industry-leading EV technology solutions. I’m looking forward to joining the company’s board of directors at this important moment for electrification as our journey towards zero-emissions transportation continues,” said Roger Nielsen. Proterra and Daimler indeed had announced their alliance at IAA Hanover in 2018. The outcome has been the launch of the electric school bus Jouley.

Roger Nielsen appointed to Proterra’s board of directors

The e-bus (and battery application) builder points out in a press note that «Roger Nielsen is a leader in commercial vehicle product development, having recently retired from Daimler Trucks, a global leading commercial vehicle manufacturer, after a 35-year career that included serving as President and CEO of Daimler Trucks North America. During his time at Daimler Trucks, Mr. Nielsen spearheaded the company’s significant advancements in the electrification of its heavy and medium duty trucks and school buses».

Roger Nielsen served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Daimler Trucks North America from April 2017 to April 2021, with responsibility for all aspects of Daimler Trucks North America and its affiliated companies in the Western Hemisphere, Australia and New Zealand. From May 2001 to April 2017, Mr. Nielsen served as Daimler Trucks North America’s Chief Operating Officer with responsibility for the company’s manufacturing network in Mexico, the U.S. and Canada, as well as all levels of operations in quality, supplier management, logistics and application engineering.

Jochen Goetz leaves Proterra

Jochen Goetz leaves the Proterra board after four years of service and assisting the company in its transition to a public company.  “Proterra thanks Jochen for his invaluable contributions to our company over the past four years and wish him well with his future endeavors,” said Jack Allen, Chairman of Proterra’s board of directors. “We are delighted to add Roger’s extensive knowledge and experience as a leader in the commercial vehicle market to our company’s board. Roger’s strong track record of developing innovative products will support Proterra’s growth and mission as we work to deliver best-in-class technology solutions to electrify commercial vehicles.”

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As mentioned above, VRT is Proterra’s first customer in Idaho and the first transit agency in Idaho to bring electric buses to its community.

Proterra vehicles are now in 42 US states and Canadian provinces, with buses operating in diverse climates and terrains from coast to coast. Proterra vehicles have driven more than 10 million service miles in cities across North America, the company says.

One fourth of the fleet to be electrified

VRT received funding for the new electric buses through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Low or No Emission Program Grants.

VRT manages contracts for the operation of ValleyRide bus services and ACCESS paratransit service. ValleyRide bus services consist of 18 fixed-line routes in Boise/Garden City, three fixed-line routes in Nampa/Caldwell, and four intercounty routes between Ada County and Canyon County.

With the purchase of eight buses and charging systems, VRT will transition about one-fourth of its fleet to battery-electric buses. The new Proterra electric buses will replace aging diesel and compressed natural gas (CNG) buses.

VRT opts for battery leasing

Valley Regional Transit will lease their bus batteries through Proterra. As a result of the battery lease, the initial capital cost for the electric bus will be similar to a diesel or CNG bus, Proterra highlights, and VRT will be able to utilize the operating funds previously earmarked for fuel to pay for the battery lease.

Additionally, under the battery lease Proterra will provide 12 years of warranty for battery performance and capacity (battery on this model has a 440 kWh capacity). The performance warranty also includes a requirement for Proterra to install new batteries on the buses at mid-life to help ensure the batteries always have enough energy to meet their route needs and hedge against future replacement battery costs.

Ryan Popple: Battery leasing makes ebuses competitive

“Valley Regional Transit is dedicated to delivering exceptional service to its citizens and supporting livable, healthy and sustainable communities,” said Kelli Badesheim, Executive Director at VRT. “Electric buses help us meet these goals. Battery-electric buses are better for the environment and offer a better rider experience for our community, and we’re excited to be working with Proterra to bring the first electric buses to Idaho.”

“By lowering the upfront costs of electric buses to be competitively priced against diesel, battery leasing removes one of the biggest barriers to adoption and empowers transit agencies to adopt and deploy larger EV fleets,” said Proterra CEO Ryan Popple. “We believe our relentless focus on vehicle innovation and pioneering finance models have helped make Proterra Catalyst vehicles the most popular electric buses in North America.”

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To date Proterra says to have sold more than 800 buses across 41 US states and Canadian provinces and delivered more than 390 battery-electric buses. Proterra vehicles on the road have also achieved nearly ten million miles of service across North America.

In August 2019 the manufacturer launched the Proterra Powered project, a new initiative that see the Californian manufacturer ready to make its electric vehicle platform available for the needs of OEMs. The path is open to a new series of partnerships on the development of heavy duty commercial vehicles: for instance, the one with Van Hool, that at Busworld 2019 in Brussels will showcase an electric coach with Proterra batteries.

Detroit to have electric buses thanks to government grants

SMART and DDOT were awarded $2.6 million through the Low- or No-Emission Vehicle (Low-No) Program from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration for the electric buses and charging systems. The Proterra electric buses are the first electric buses for both organizations and the Proterra vehicles will replace aging diesel buses.

DDOT, that operates in the city of Detroit and neighboring cities, will receive two 40-foot Proterra Catalyst E2 Max buses, two Proterra 125 kW plug-in chargers and one 500 kW overhead fast-charge system.

On the other hand, SMART, in charge of suburban routes, will receive four 40-foot Proterra Catalyst E2 buses with DuoPower drivetrain technology (that features two electric motors delivering 510 horsepower), four Proterra 125 kW plug-in chargers and one 500 kW overhead fast-charge system.

DTE Energy to provide utility infrastructure for charging

An important player in the project of electric bus deployment in Detroit will be DTE Energy, that will work with SMART, DDOT and Proterra to provide the utility infrastructure necessary for charging the buses while on-route and at the respective terminals. Proterra and DTE Energy also recently announced a project to provide battery-electric school buses to Michigan schools for pupil transportation and to conduct a vehicle-to-grid pilot program.

A big step into the future for Michigan

“SMART has long been interested in adding alternative fuel buses to our fleet, and the all-electric bus project is a big step into the future for transit in southeast Michigan.” said John C. Hertel, General Manager, SMART. “Battery-electric buses not only help us meet our sustainability goals, but provide a better rider experience while delivering cost savings.”

“Electric buses are a great addition to our fleet and sustainability initiatives that will continue to improve the transit experience for our communities,” said Angelica Jones, Interim Director of DDOT. “It is a great example between the public, private sector and DTE to bring clean and efficient transportation to metro Detroit.”

“We’re excited to once again be working with Proterra to deliver the benefits of electric vehicle technology to Michigan,” said Sean Gouda, manager of DTE’s Electrification Business Development. “DTE Energy is a leader in clean energy initiatives, and we see transportation as a great opportunity to grow our sustainability efforts throughout the state. We commend DDOT and SMART for expanding clean transportation options in our region.”

“Proterra has reached an incredible milestone, bringing clean, quiet transportation to 100 customers across North America,” said Proterra CEO Ryan Popple. “From the vehicle design and battery technology to heavy-duty charging systems and energy solutions, Proterra has been a pioneer in electrifying the transit industry. More than any other form of transportation, battery-electric buses are the cornerstone in addressing the future of mobility and sustainability for cities, and we believe the most exciting EV developments are happening in the North American electric bus industry.”

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Proterra and the partnerships underway

To date, Proterra is already partnering with world-class OEMs like Daimler, Van Hool, and Alexander Dennis to introduce 100% battery-electric vehicles that are powered by Proterra electric vehicle technology and provide clean, quiet transportation.

Proterra and Thomas Built Buses, a leading manufacturer of school buses in North America and subsidiary of Daimler, have unveiled a new high-performance electric school bus, the Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley. A cooperation announced at IAA 2018 (the vehicle has recently been elected as eligible for fundings). Van Hool selected Proterra for its first all-electric motor coach in the North American market.

From initial design consulting, engineering services and integration, to service support, training, and charging infrastructure implementation, Proterra offers comprehensive solutions for vehicle electrification, the manufacturer points out in a press release.

Urban fleet, best use case for EV

The Proterra Powered group is led by Toby Kraus. Kraus has been with Proterra for more than three years and has had a leadership role in Proterra’s finance, strategy and business development efforts. Prior to Proterra, Kraus held several roles at Tesla (as the case of Popple) including overseeing Tesla’s Business Operations team and working as a product manager for the Model S.

“Commercial urban fleets are the best use case for EV technology and we are at the beginning of an electrification revolution for heavy-duty vehicles due to declining battery costs, improved electric powertrain technology, lowered maintenance, and the immense public health benefits EVs bring to our communities,” said Proterra CEO Ryan Popple. “As more OEMs adopt EV technology for their vehicles, Proterra is uniquely positioned to be the best electrification partner because of our years of experience testing and evolving our battery system, drivetrains and charging systems through the deployment of our Proterra Catalyst transit vehicles, with vehicles on the road all across North America.”

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Commercial production of the vehicle is scheduled to begin next year and assembly will take place in North Carolina.

Electric school bus for California

On 26th July Thomas Built Buses (subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America) announced it has received full California Air Resources Board (CARB) and Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP) certifications for its Type C electric bus, named Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley, powered by Proterra electric vehicle technology. This certification officially qualifies Jouley for state vouchers.

On the same day, the manufacturer also informed that the electric school bus has been judged eligible for funding from the California Energy Commission (CEC). Thus, Thomas Built Buses says, California school districts purchasing the Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley electric school bus are eligible for reimbursement of disposed older school buses approved under California Energy Commission GFO-17-607 grant program.

Proterra breaking through the electric school bus world

The partnership between Daimler Buses and Proterra was announced in occasion of IAA Commercial Vehicle 2018 in Hannover. Where visitors had the chance to see the electric school bus in a version powered by Efficient Drivetrains. The first electric school bus realized by Proterra and Thomas Built Buses was unveiled during the 44th Annual National Association of Pupil Transportation (NAPT) Conference.

The Saf-T-Liner C2, alias Jouley, electric school bus powered by Proterra represents Proterra’s entrance into a new commercial vehicle sector, the school bus market. The C2 bus powered by Proterra is being co-developed with Thomas Built Buses in Proterra’s Greenville, SC manufacturing facility. The electric school bus Jouley has 220 kWh of total energy capacity and can charge in about three hours with the Proterra DC charging system. Operating range can be up to 120 miles depending on various operating conditions.

A step forward on the electrification of school bus market

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In his new role at Proterra, Boggess will be responsible for driving the company’s technology roadmap and program launch efforts and will lead cost and reliability improvement projects in these areas. Some of the technology programs directly under his supervision include vehicle range modeling, depot charging simulation, product telemetry, customer vehicle controls, electrical and thermal efficiency and autonomy projects.

Mike Boggess, a past in Blue Bird Corporation

Boggess has three decades of engineering experience in the transportation and vehicle industries. Most recently Boggess was the Chief Engineer for drivetrain, electrical and chassis at Blue Bird Corporation and led the launch of their electrified school bus.

Prior to Blue Bird Corporation, Proterra explains in a press release, Boggess was the System Engineering Manager for powertrain and active chassis at Fiat Chrysler. He was also the Systems Engineering Supervisor at Chrysler Group, where he developed the engine technology roadmap for Chrysler Group products. At Daimler Chrysler, Boggess was the team lead for charging and ignition systems. He also has experience as an engineer at General Motors Corporation. Boggess is the owner of six patents for various innovative features including battery charging algorithms, electronic ignition hardware/software and contactless position sensing.

Mike Boggess. Proterra reaping the benefits of industry experiences

“Proterra is dedicated to building the best transit bus on the road and advancing our electric vehicle technology to meet the needs of every transit route in North America,” said Chief Commercial Officer Matt Horton. “To meet these goals, we’ve assembled an accomplished vehicle engineering team with a breadth of experience from top companies in the industry including Blue Bird, REV Group, Tesla and others. We’re thrilled to have Mike join and lead our team to advance vehicle controls, electrical and thermal systems.”

“Proterra is revolutionizing the transit industry with purpose-built electric vehicles, charging systems and batteries, and I’m thrilled to be joining the team,” said Mike Boggess. “I am a big fan of Proterra buses and am looking forward to building on Proterra’s record of excellence.”

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