Lightning eMotors Announces Altoona Testing Certification for Lightning ZEV3^TM Passenger Van

Certification ensures Lightning ZEV3 is eligible for Federal Transit Administration Low and No Emission grants

Lightning eMotors zero-emission, medium-duty commercial vehicles and electric vehicle technology for fleets, announced its Class 3 Lightning ZEV3 all-electric passenger van received Altoona testing certification. Altoona testing is the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) longstanding testing procedure for buses. Lightning’s ZEV3 is the first, and currently only battery-electric class 3 passenger van that has passed Altoona testing.

In addition to verifying the safety and durability of the vehicle, Altoona certification ensures that, along with the Lightning ZEV4™ shuttle bus which passed Altoona previously, Lightning’s Class 3 ZEV3 passenger van qualifies for purchase or lease with grants from federal and state governments taking part in the FTA’s Low and No Emissions Grant program. Transit vehicles must pass Altoona testing to be eligible for purchase using the over $4 billion in grant funding available over the next four years for the purchase or lease of zero or low emission transit buses. The availability of these funds will allow fleets to transition to electric vehicles more quickly, helping organizations and companies lower their carbon footprint.

“Fleet managers look to Altoona testing to ensure the vehicles they purchase are tested to meet the demands of transit usage for many years and thousands of miles,” said Nick Bettis, vice president of marketing and sales operations at Lightning eMotors. “This certification confirms our ZEV3 passenger van can withstand the harshest of punishment and will keep occupants safe.”

Transit vehicles experience rigorous daily usage, and Altoona testing verifies vehicles are up to the task. Certification involves a standardized set of procedures, designed to measure the vehicle’s maintainability, reliability, safety, performance, structural integrity, and noise. For battery-electric vehicles such as Lightning’s ZEV3, testing also involves range and efficiency assessments.

“Transit agencies are becoming more interested in micro-transit and battery-electric vehicle solutions to supplement traditional buses. This shift has created the need for smaller vehicles to complete Altoona testing and become available,” said Bettis. “Our ZEV3 platform has long been one of our most popular with commercial fleet operators. Now, with Altoona testing certification, transit fleet managers can be confident the Lightning ZEV3 provides the durability needed for transit use and is eligible for FTA grants.”

“Our fleet of Lightning ZEV3 passenger vans have performed great within our micro transit service model,” said Richard Tree, executive director of the Tulare County Regional Transit Agency. “Now with Altoona certification, we are excited to be able to leverage FTA funds to potentially expand our fleet.”

In use with fleets across North America for micro-transit and shuttle services, the two-battery Lightning ZEV3 passenger van is equipped with a state-of-the-art electric drivetrain that delivers the best efficiency of any vehicle in its weight class, in addition to providing a quiet, smooth and familiar driving experience. The van is powered by thermally managed batteries, offering the best range, efficiency and lifetime of any batteries in the market. Lightning’s ZEV3 boasts up to 200 miles of range (depending on configuration) and comes standard with both Level 2 AC charging and DC Fast Charge capabilities. Lightning has fielded over 300 Lightning ZEV3 vans to date and those vehicles have accumulated over 3.3 million real world miles.

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