Detroit-based startup Inventev — known for its patented technology used to create medium duty commercial truck electrification solutions — has partnered with Ann Arbor-based software developer New Eagle to create and sell all-electric drive, full-size commercial vans. Details of the agreement, announced at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, were not released.
“The environment to support commercial truck electrification has been changing rapidly at the federal, state, and municipal levels,” says Dave Stenson, founder and CEO of Inventev. “We feel this near-term product offering will address specialty fleet customer needs and be complementary to Inventev’s core technology ‘The Energy SWAT Truck’ that will develop in parallel.”
Stenson says Inventev will serve as the up fitter and distributor, while New Eagle will provide the core propulsion system and controls. The companies anticipate technology development to occur in southeast Michigan between the two cities.
While still in early stages of development, Stenson says the two companies see potential job creation and retention in Michigan, numbering more than 100, as a direct result of the project.
While a specific van model hasn’t been determined yet, Stenson says several models fit the bill regarding the up-fit. Inventev will provide a focus on commercial fleet customer requirements, supply chain and manufacturing, while New Eagle performs core drive system design and development. Production and sales are planned to begin during the 2018 model year.
In 2016, Inventev received a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, and was paired with a $50,000 Michigan MATch Energy Grant to support a proprietary plug-in hybrid medium duty truck technology. New Eagle is a sub-recipient of the grant and key supplier to the ongoing effort for key components, control systems and physical vehicle integration.
