Costco and Electrify America Open New Charging Stations

April 2024, three companies came together wanting to address an industry opportunity that they saw in the European market and to hopefully take it globally. Renault Group, Volvo Group, and CMA-CGM came together to announce a new EV startup called FLEXIS. Flexis would be a skateboard platform that would allow a last mile delivery solution that would be efficient by using cutting-edge technology to offer a cutting-edge solution focused on offering a comprehensive suite of services that would help companies optimize fleet operational efficiency and reduce costs. Like any modern company, a mission statement is only as good as what is actually delivered by the company. Flexis’ mission is to provide innovative and cleaner solutions, essential for the future of urban logistics. What modern media calls last mile deliver. Flexis aim is to offer seamless integration of uptime management, energy efficiency, driver monitoring, routing optimization, and cargo management or what Flexis states as "Revolutionizing Urban Logistics". Flexis calls their platform "SDV" or Software Defined Vehicle that offers a seamless integration into client's operational systems. Flexis has assembled what they believe is the tailor-made solutions for major players in urban delivery. Flexis has three fully electric, fully customizable fleet designed vans for city delivery needs: Step-in Van Cargo Van Panel Van All three work with an embedded solution for connected logistics. The platform enables the vehicles to send real-time data to fleet management operators to maximize operational efficiency, as well as receive over the air updates, essentially making the vehicle a computer on wheels. The fully EV-native range of vehicles are designed with logistics operations in mind to significantly improve efficiency. All vehicles have: a low floor height to ease the loading and unloading of parcels; the possibility of fully customizing the interior of the vehicles without the constraints of retrofitted hardware; the integration of high-capacity battery solutions allowing for fast charging (80% in less than 20 minutes); and the best range for urban operations (up to 450km WLTP per charge or 280 miles U.S. range).   The vehicles are designed with superior ergonomics to increase driver safety and provide the comfort of a passenger car; for example, the driver seat is positioned at a height to reduce the impact on driver’s knees (reducing up to 250 up-and-down movements per day). Flexis has already invested €350 Million in the development of the product range and has now entered the industrialization and pre-production phase in 2025. Serial production will start mid-2026 at Renault Group’s Sandouville plant in France. As part of the development process, twenty representative prototypes have been built and are currently being tested, cumulating more than 9,000 hours of driving , since March 2024. Step-in Van The Step-In van features a unique silhouette in the medium van segment featuring front sliding doors and a rear shutter door for loading optimization; a first for the European market. The van features easy access between the cockpit and cargo areas with a 1.9 meter or 6 foot 2 inches tall height clearance allowing drivers to comfortably walk upright throughout the vehicle. Cargo Van The vehicle is adapted to urban last-mile delivery needs and beyond with an easily convertible box, capable of integrating different widths, heights, and beds, as well as modular solutions including, but not limited to, refrigerated boxes. Panel Van The urban-proof, multi-purpose design addresses all limitations of current market offerings, including superior maneuverability and an overall height of 1.9m or 6ft 2 inches, enabling it to enter underground city parking and garages easily. Embedded solutions for connected logistics Beyond the family of electric vehicles, Flexis is developing a portfolio of B2B-oriented services to help logistics operators decarbonize and improve operational efficiency. The Flexis fleet management solutions are developed based on an open platform leveraging the capabilities of the Software Defined Vehicle and able to seamlessly integrate the vehicles in the existing digital environments already existing at customer operations. Flexis services are centered around four main pillars: uptime management, operational efficiency, energy and charging infrastructure management, and financial services, and will be delivered through: ➢ A central digital platform for Flexis clients called the “FlexE Connect” ➢ Existing service networks across Europe supported by Renault Group and Volvo Group ➢ A Customer Operational Centre, offering clients a team of experts dedicated to conducting real-time fleet monitoring, providing diagnostics, proactive recommendations to customers, and sharing personalized performance reports. Flexis has also announced their first 10 letters of intent signed with logistic providers across France, Germany and the UK for 15,000 vehicles once production begins in spring 2026. FLEXIS MOBILITY Flexis is offering the following: Innovative skateboard platform: 800V batteries Long driving range Rapid Charging High Power Output Low floor height State-of-the-art ergonomics for operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness B2B-centric interfaces and services Dedicated customer interface Tailored customer support Fit-for-purpose built solutions and services Optimized TCU or Total Cost of Usage Streamlined operations SDV - Software Defined Vehicles Flexibility and scalability through software-defined vehicles Seamless integration of new services and continuous upgrades Flexis believes they have a winning solution based on the three key areas: Urban Friendly CO2 free Access to low-emission zones - European cities Silent Compact footprint Tight turning radius for better maneuverability Various body types to adapt to operational needs of customers Driver First Low Cab position for easy access Step in Van - safe and direct access Innovative cockpit for optimum driver efficiency Lowest floor height Fleet Management Effectiveness Predictive maintenance Midlife battery upgrade Remote charging and monitoring of battery state of charge 200km or 124 miles charged in less than 30 minutes Seamless integration and open platform Eco design with use of recycled materials Flexis partners see great growth in the near future as this new EV startup brings a industry software solution with dedicated EV platform together to address the needs of companies making deliveries. With a modern B2B-centric solution of interfaces and services in a dedicated EV platform, can Flexis survive in a market that has seen many EV companies parish as they focus on delivering an end-to-end solution for the urban logistics market? Is this the ultimate systems and solutions service product that companies are looking for? Can it beat GM Brightdrop or Rivian's vans to name a few? View full article

Yes, GM and Hyundai Motor Group signed an agreement of Understanding to investigate joint product development, manufacturing and future clean energy technologies. Hyundai and GM Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Explore Collaboration on Vehicles, Supply Chain and Clean-Energy Technologies I did not cover it here as it is very vague on what they are going to do when you read the details. Hyundai covered it in their press releases, but GM never posted anything which pretty much tells me GM sees little value here to the executive other than a photo op. To quote the press release from Hyundai: Following the signing of the non-binding Memorandum of Understanding, assessment of opportunities and progression towards binding agreements will begin immediately.

30 and cloudy today, but dry. Took the Caddy for a spin, first drive since December.  Went on the coast for seafood and a walk on the beach.  Came home and got the Mustang out for a bit.  Looking forward to Spring. 

Speaking of Hyundai and Kia vans, there was talk on the latest Wheelbearings podcast that Hyundai is interested at bringing the Staria minivan here as a GM model, maybe as the new Chevy City Express (replacing that hideous rebadged Nissan van from a few years ago).   Apparently GM and Hyundai have some sort of JV program in the works.

Pathetically sad that Trump is trying to kill anything that is to protect Americans against hate in the workplace. Trump Signs Order to Kill Federal Agency Investigating Tesla