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GM Truck EV Conversion Company Lightning eMotors Shuts Down

Back in February 2022, GM Authority covered Colorado-based commercial EV company Lighting eMotors, who was working with General Motors to develop all-electric solutions for those looking for medium-duty commercial fleet vehicles. Well, it now appears as though the conversion company is shutting down.

In an auction set to go live on May 23rd, 2024 and run until May 30th, 2024, folks who may be interested will have the opportunity to bid on $10 million in parts, tools, equipment and electric vehicles, all of which was formerly owned by Lightning eMotors.

Front three-quarter view of Chevy Silverado MD, which is a GM vehicle Lighting eMotors converted.

“Lightning eMotors developed an efficient process for adding new drivetrains, electric motors and battery packs to existing chassis,” Tiger Commercial & Industrial Managing Director Chad Farrell remarked. “Fleet operators can achieve their ESG goals or just run cleaner by acquiring select groupings of assets in this sale. It’s a great opportunity.”

It’s worth noting that the converted vehicles include Chevy Express and GMC Savana Cutaways, along with school buses, shuttle buses and trailers.

Interestingly, Lighting eMotors’ operations were not continued after it entered receivership and was purchased by a third party.

Some additional highlights include:

  • Two dynamometers
  • Large quantities of electric motors, gearboxes, batteries, wiring harnesses, connectors and other automotive parts
  • An advanced machine shop with goodies like a laser metal sheet and pipe cutter, as well as welders, bandsaws, floor and jib cranes, jack stands and dozens of tools.
  • Pallet racking, utility shelving, furniture, computers, filing cabinets and a key card system

As some quick background on the company itself, Lighting eMotors converted conventional, fossil fuel-burning vehicles into zero-emission EVs for fleet-operating customers, including municipalities, school systems and medical businesses.

“GM’s inclusive approach to electrification is a great match for Lightning’s position and role as a leading powertrain supplier in the commercial vehicle space,” former Lightning eMotors CEO and Co-Founder Tim Reeser was quoted as stating back in 2022. “Commercial vehicles and commercial vehicle powertrains are complex, with thousands of unique components, requiring years of custom software development and on-road testing – and Lightning has products in fleet use today and ready for customers to roll out this year.”

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As a typical Florida Man, Trey is a certified GM nutjob who's obsessed with anything and everything Corvette-related.

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Comments

  1. “Fleet operators can achieve their ESG goals”

    Gross.

    Reply
  2. Another EV company went under? Shocked. SHOCKED I tell ya!

    “$10 million in parts, tools, equipment and electric vehicles, all of which was formerly owned by Lightning eMotors.” so you can lose $100 million trying to “achieve your ESG goals”. That right there is what insanity looks like.

    Reply
    1. No pun intended?

      Reply
  3. The real opportunity is “going the other way”…converting some of the EV’s to ICE.

    Reply
    1. Be like Rich Rebuilds and LS Swap his Model S.

      Reply
  4. Another EV company bought out by big oil. Chevron and other big oil companies are working hard to kill the EV just like they did to the GM EV1 in the late 70’s and early 80’s. EVs aren’t for everyone but they have some significant advantages in terms of operating cost and pollution control. Don’t be influenced by all BS out there condemning EVs. Most of it is overhyped or flat out not true.

    Reply
    1. Nobody is buying these companies out to put them under. In fact Shell bought out Volta Chargers and their branding was replaced with the Shell logo. The demand for this is simply not there. Electric commercial vehicles can work for short trips (like Amazon delivery vehicles or school busses) but nobody has space to simultaneously charge a fleet of work vans if you are say a contractor when all the vehicles are deployed at once to different projects. Not to mention they carry heavy equipment within the vehicle or towed that will kill their range by 2/3rds. So many fleets just aren’t seeing the value and practicality of them.

      Reply
    2. LOL! Google the largest shareholders for Chevron. Look at the top 3. I’ll wait.

      Reply
      1. The same four largest as BYD.

        Reply

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