Mullen Automotive has recently announced electric vehicle (EV) orders, partnerships, and production start-ups within the commercial fleet world. Automotive Fleet has a roundup of these changes, including:

• Associated Coffee Adds Class 3 EVs to Its Fleet with Latest Mullen Order

• Advanced Refrigerated Upfit for the Mullen Three to Support Perishable Goods Transport

• U.S. Battery Production Expansion to Power Mullen’s Next-Gen EVs

Mullen Lands EV Order from Associated Coffee, Supporting Bay Area’s Shift to Sustainable Fleet Operations

Mullen recently announced an order from Associated Coffee, a San Francisco Bay Area coffee and snack distributor. The initial vehicle order includes 10 Class 3 EV cab chassis trucks fulfilled by Papé Group, an authorized Mullen EV sales and service dealer.

Advancing Sustainability with Local Sourcing and Green Fleet Initiatives

Based in San Leandro, Associated Coffee has operated in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 40 years and services more than 5,000 Northern California businesses.

According to a company statement, Associated Coffee prioritizes sustainability within operations, including sourcing and partnering with locally owned suppliers and implementing in-house recycling programs. Associated Coffee is the only known office coffee service in the Bay Area to invest in a de-liming method instead of traditional harsh chemical (acid) methods.

In addition, Associated Coffee distributes products from five Bay Area branches, allowing for less road time, pollution, and fuel consumption while reducing overall carbon footprint and expediting response time.

“Our commercial EVs are an ideal solution for office coffee and snack delivery services, and the San Francisco Bay Area is a well-known, established region for electric vehicle adoption,” Michery said. “We are proud to support Associated Coffee’s sustainability initiatives and their focus on operational efficiency.”

Mullen also recently announced new orders for its Mullen One from two leading California universities in Los Angeles and Berkeley, which follows recent orders from prestigious higher education institutions across the nation, including:

• Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey

• University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia

• University of North Carolina in Charlotte, North Carolina

The vehicles delivered in this announcement are through Mullen’s commercial retail dealer partners, National Fleet Auto Group and Randy Marion Automotive Group.

Mullen Three Gets Advanced Refrigerated Upfit for Perishable Goods Transport Through Papé and Emerald Transportation

Mullen Automotive announced that Emerald Transportation Solutions, a commercial refrigeration (reefer) vehicle upfitter, is working with the Papé Group to develop an advanced reefer upfit for the Mullen Three, a Class 3 all-electric truck.

The refrigerated Class 3 EV box truck opens new categories for home delivery, frozen food, grocery, and beverage transportation.

Emerald can outfit service trucks and vans and install refrigeration equipment to customize commercial vehicles. Emerald collaborates with clients to design and fabricate custom and unique upfits or vehicle conversions tailored to specific needs and budgets.

The Mullen Three Class 3 electric truck comes with a versatile chassis that provides a clean top-of-rail for easy upfitting with bodies up to 14 ft. long and over 5,300 lbs. of payload, making it an ideal platform for the reefer upfit.

“Transportation of perishable goods is a great segment for our commercial EVs and we’re working with Emerald and Papé to bring this innovative reefer upfit of the Mullen Three to market,” David Michery, CEO and chairman of Mullen Automotive, said. “This collaboration aligns with our commitment to providing sustainable and efficient transportation solutions for businesses of all sizes and industries.”

Expanding EV Lineup With Incentives and Savings for Fleets

Mullen’s commercial EV lineup includes the Mullen One, a Class 1 EV cargo van, and Mullen Three, a Class 3 EV cab chassis truck, purpose-built to meet the demands of urban last-mile delivery. Both vehicles are available for sale and fully compliant with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, EPA, and CARB certifications.

The Mullen Three recently qualified for a $15,000 incentive through the State of Massachusetts MOR-EV program and a $45,000 cash rebate voucher through the California Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Program (HVIP).

The Mullen One is also eligible for the MOR-EV program with a $3,500 rebate in Massachusetts. Combined with the $7,500 Federal Tax Incentive, both vehicles offer substantial savings for commercial fleet customers.

Mullen Expands U.S. Battery Production to Power Next-Gen EVs

Mullen recently announced an update on the company’s battery operations in Fullerton, California. The Fullerton facility is dedicated to producing next-generation, American-made battery packs and modules, a critical component of the company’s commitment to zero emissions and reducing reliance on key battery components imported from foreign countries.

“A key mission for our company is to transition to American-made battery components,” Michery said. “Our focus is on producing batteries and modules made right here in the USA.”

Mullen has installed three battery lines at its Fullerton facility and plans for an additional two lines, including:

• High-volume standard battery chemistry line.

• High precision, low volume standard chemistry R&D line.

• A high precision, low volume solid-state polymer R&D line.

• An additional high-volume standard chemistry battery line will be installed in December 2024.

• An additional high-volume, fully automated wire bonding line will be installed by February 2025 for use with multiple chemistries.