• Lightning eMotors’ ZEV3 vans will be part of a pilot program demonstrating EV routing into Zion National Park through the historic Mt. Carmel tunnel
• EVZion’s Regional Smart Mobility pilot program is designed to be a blueprint for rural gateway communities nationwide 

LOVELAND, Colo. / Aug 24, 2023 / Business Wire / Lightning eMotors (NYSE: ZEV), a leading provider of all-electric powertrains and medium-duty and specialty commercial electric fleet vehicles, announced today the deployment of two of its Lightning ZEV3™ Class 3 passenger vans with the Utah Clean Cities East Zion pilot shuttle program.

The public-private initiative is a landmark demonstration of how industry, federal and local agencies can come together to demonstrate smart mobility solutions that increase regional resiliency and connectivity. As part of a pilot program that began in 2019, EVZion has developed a zero-emission, electric vehicle (EV) shuttle system to demonstrate the efficiency of electric vehicle transportation in rural gateway communities. The first Lightning eMotors ZEV3 shuttle buses included in this program were deployed on August 22, 2023.

“The opportunity to work with the Utah Clean Cities team and our partners to demonstrate the viability and scalability of all-electric, zero-emission passenger systems aligns perfectly with our mission and vision,” Nick Bettis, VP of marketing and sales operations at Lightning eMotors, said. “As the only electrified vehicle provider actively delivering customized, fully electric Class 3 shuttles and a robust range of charging solutions, Lightning eMotors is excited to be part of the EVZion project.”

"Introducing right-sized vehicles like these shuttles offers a solution that addresses safety and congestion concerns at the park head-on,” stated Tammie Bostick, Utah Clean Cities Executive Director and project lead of the EVZion project. “The historic Mt. Carmel Tunnel, an iconic landmark since its inauguration on July 4, 1930, has long struggled with accommodating oversized vehicles and maintaining a safe traffic flow. By adopting these shuttles, tailored to the tunnel's dimensions, we're taking an active step towards ensuring a two-way traffic flow that eliminates the frustrating hours and miles of backed-up vehicles. This approach not only respects the park's history but also paves the way for a more enjoyable and secure experience for all visitors.”

Lightning’s ZEV3 passenger vans have a long track record of operating in public and private transit and on-demand microtransit contexts across the county.

"Selecting Lightning eMotors as our electrified shuttle partner was a meticulous and comprehensive process," Bostick continued. "We've been closely monitoring Lightning's development, and we have high confidence in their ability to become a leader in this domain. Their proven technology strongly resonates with our zero-emission objectives. Our aim is to expand this pilot into a nationwide program. Today, we are forging a partnership with Lightning eMotors, fully confident in their capability to be the ideal collaborator in realizing our vision."

The vans were customized with rear-facing cameras by Lightning’s partner Volition Components in Broomfield, Colorado, to allow the side mirrors to be folded so that the vans can pass each other in the tunnel. In conjunction with the deployment of the two vans, Lightning is demonstrating Lightning Mobile, which provides DC fast charging in a trailer format. This technology is especially valuable for charging EVs in locations that may be remote from the grid.

The EVZion ribbon-cutting follows a recent announcement by Teton Village, WY, about the acquisition of Lightning eMotors vehicles to replace the diesel buses that serve nearly half a million people in and around Teton Village resort.

“Our ability to customize and deliver vehicles to our customers to meet their specific needs is one of our major differentiators,” Bettis said. “We aren’t just committed to the idea of deploying 100% zero-emission vehicles, we are actually doing it. In fact, Lightning has delivered more than 600 fully electric vehicles that have travelled more than 5 million miles, and more Lightning vehicles are hitting the streets each week.”

ABOUT LIGHTNING eMOTORS

Lightning eMotors (NYSE: ZEV) has been providing specialized and sustainable fleet solutions since 2009, deploying complete zero-emission-vehicle (ZEV) solutions for commercial fleets since 2018. In that time, we have deployed a variety of vehicle classes and applications including but not limited to cargo and passenger vans, ambulances, transit and shuttle buses, school buses, specialty work trucks, and electric powertrains for school buses, transit buses and motor coaches. The Lightning eMotors team designs, engineers, customizes, and manufactures zero-emission vehicles to support the wide array of fleet customer needs with a full suite of control software, telematics, analytics, and charging solutions to simplify the buying and ownership experience and maximize uptime and energy efficiency. To learn more, visit our website at https://lightningemotors.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Except for historical information herein, matters set forth in this press release are forward-looking within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements about the commercial and technology progress and future financial performance of Lightning eMotors, Inc. These forward-looking statements are identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “expand,” “enable,” “might,” “potential,” “should,” “would” among others. Forward-looking statements in this press release are subject to certain risks and uncertainties inherent in the company’s business that could cause actual results or outcomes to vary, including, but not limited to, risks related to Lightning eMotors’ operations and business and financial performance; the ability of Lightning eMotors to execute on its business strategy and grow demand for its products and revenue; potential increases in costs or shortage of raw materials; market acceptance of new product offerings; and other risks more fully described in Lightning eMotors’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved, if at all. Lightning eMotors undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.