Leading rail intermodal firm expands use of electric yard trucks

KANSAS CITY, Mo., February 29, 2017 – Orange EV today announced that Rail Management Services (RMS) has placed a follow-on order for nine (9) additional T-Series pure electric terminal trucks. RMS, one of the largest rail intermodal yard operators in the United States, purchased their first Orange EV truck in July 2016 for use at a Class 1 railyard in Chicago. Ed Morgenthaler, Vice President of Maintenance, Safety, Legal and Operations for RMS, estimates that the Chicago yard ranks as one of the top five toughest sites of their 40+ facilities across the U.S.

“We put the Orange EV truck in Chicago at one of our toughest ramps. It’s one of the larger facilities in the country and has been active for decades making the terrain harsh on hostlers,” said Morgenthaler. “The Chicago winters also play an important role in it being a difficult location. Frankly, I was surprised. I didn’t expect the truck to be as reliable as it is.”

Orange EV offers a range of configurations built to meet site-specific requirements while managing cost. The RMS reorder is comprised of nine Extended Duty (160 kWh) trucks, each with galvanized frames but built to three different configurations: new, on-road (DOT compliant), with standard onboard charging; re-manufactured (aka re-powered), off-road, with offboard fast charging; and re-manufactured, off-road, with standard onboard charging. The trucks are being worked into onsite fleets to supplement and replace RMS’s diesel trucks. Five of the trucks will be deployed at the same Chicago railyard while four will be utilized at rail sites in New York.

“Although we had hiccups at first, the Orange EV guys got right on it and quickly rectified the situation,” Morgenthaler continued. “The New York sites are also difficult environments with lots of snow, ice, and rough ramps but after the Chicago pilot, I feel confident that the trucks will be very reliable.”

“RMS has done an incredibly thorough job of evaluating and understanding our technology – why and how to use it – while making us better in the process” said Mike Saxton, Orange EV chief commercial officer. “Our goal with RMS and all customers is to ensure that Orange EV trucks deliver the promised value in a complete electric truck solution that does the job while making economic sense. It’s gratifying that 75% of our fleets have re-ordered within six months of receiving their first Orange EV truck.”

Railyards and other container handling operations are often located in designated non-attainment areas. Switching from diesel yard trucks to electric provides immediate emissions reductions and health benefits for workers and surrounding communities. While figures vary by site, Orange EV estimates the per truck emissions eliminated in rail intermodal hub operations annually can be up to 160 tons CO2, 1.7 tons NOx, 1.6 tons CO, and 80 kg PM.

Total cost of ownership is reduced as well due to savings in fuel, maintenance and other expenses, enabling fleets to use existing capital and expense budgets planned for diesels. Additional savings of up to 85% of total purchase price are available via incentive programs offered at city, state and federal levels.

About Rail Management Services

Rail Management Services (RMS) is an intermodal lift-on/lift-off contractor with a hostling fleet of 700+ trucks. A leading supplier of intermodal ramp services, RMS is currently contracted at 40+ facilities across the United States on four Class 1 railroads and handles over 7.4 million lifts per year. RMS is a subsidiary of Carrix, one of the world’s largest privately held marine terminal and rail yard operators. Contact Rail Management Services at [email protected] and 206-382-4460, or visit the RMS website at rmsintermodal.com.

About Orange EV

Kansas City based Orange EV is the leading OEM providing industrial fleets with heavy duty electric solutions that do the same work while eliminating diesel fuel and emissions. Orange EV’s terminal truck was the first heavy duty electric vehicle approved for sale in California. Building both new and re-powered vehicles, Orange EV was the first to commercially deploy 100% electric Class 8 vehicles into container handling operations. Contact Orange EV at [email protected] and 866-688-5223, or visit the company’s website at www.OrangeEV.com.