Gatik marries self-driving tech with electric trucks

Self-driving truck company Gatik thrives on consistency.

In the realm of autonomy, the company's goal has been to connect distribution centers with specific hubs and stores. Its trucks ply the same routes day after day, constraining the scenarios that self-driving systems face into manageable chunks.

Route certainty is also helping Gatik develop and deploy electric trucks. By knowing exactly how many miles trucks will drive and by installing chargers at hubs and destinations, electrification in short-haul logistics can work.

Gatik launched three EVs in its fleet Wednesday in conjunction with its partnership with Walmart. The trucks connect a Walmart Supercenter in New Orleans with a pickup location in Metairie, La., a suburb. It's about 20 miles between the two, well within the 120-mile range of the trucks, which can recharge while goods are loaded and unloaded.

"It's become very clear to us in multiple conversations with customers over the last year that the marriage of electrification and short-haul logistics, they're perfectly suited for each other," said Richard Steiner, head of policy and communications at Gatik.The three Class 3, 12-foot trucks are Ford Transit 350 HDs, electrified in collaboration with Via Motors Inc. Given the trucks often carry groceries, refrigeration's needs add an unusual wrinkle to power consumption in freight hauling.

But savings on maintenance and fuel — not to mention helping customers such as Walmart reach corporate sustainability goals — make electrified trucks worthwhile. With so many COVID-19-era developments in delivery, Gatik has set an example.

-- Pete Bigelow

What you need to know

Lidar enthusiasm high; some companies may face reckoning After more than a decade in development for automotive purposes, lidar sensors have become a linchpin technology for autonomy, using lasers to help vehicles determine where they are in the world and detect obstacles in their path. But the path ahead for dozens of lidar companies remains blurry. As lidar has transformed itself into a multibillion-dollar business over the past year, a handful of companies have separated themselves from the pack. The rest likely face a reckoning.

Tesla's commanding lead in U.S. EVs illustrated by registration report Nearly 8 out of 10 electric vehicles registered in the U.S. last year were from one particular California automaker. You guessed it: According to new data from Experian, Tesla accounted for 79 percent of U.S. EV registrations in 2020, with 200,561 of its battery-electric vehicles registered, a 16 percent jump from 2019, when owners registered 172,438 Teslas. All four Tesla models ranked among the top five EVs last year. The Chevrolet Bolt small hatchback had the third-most U.S. registrations among electric vehicles in 2020, at 19,664. That was up 20 percent from the year before.

Venture capital firm taps auto execs to scout mobility startups A venture capital firm co-headquartered in Detroit and Berlin is hoping to use its proximity to traditional automotive powerhouses to compete with Silicon Valley VC firms in the hot space for mobility-focused startups. Assembly Ventures, co-founded by a former partner at a VC firm closely associated with Bill Ford, executive chairman of Ford Motor Co., has enlisted some Motown muscle to help steer mobility startups from concept to reality, Bloomberg reports.

Roundup

Jaguar to become all-electric brand as part of new turnaround plan.

Ford to sell only full-electric cars in Europe by 2030.

Bosch, Microsoft join forces to develop a vehicle software platform.

GM officially opens AV test track in Oshawa, Ontario.

AEye Inc., a startup that makes lidar systems for self-driving vehicles, is going public by merging with blank-check company CF Finance Acquisition Corp. III.

Partnerships accelerate Aurora goals on dual fronts.

Group pushes for a uniform way to recharge electric scooters, bikes.

Chevrolet updates, expands Bolt EV family as price drops.

A look at the lidar field.

Toyota takes modest approach to EV rollout.

Apple loses key manager from self-driving EV team.

Ford sells stake in lidar maker Velodyne.

Apple's lidar foray may benefit Israel's Opsys Tech.

McLaren embarks on deeper electrified future with Artura plug-in hybrid.

VW-backed battery startup QuantumScape rises on report of technical breakthrough.

Former CARB chairman Mary Nichols joins Ford's Jim Farley as co-chair of mobility group.

Ford joins global initiative to promote responsible mining.

Hyundai previews Ioniq 5 interior ahead of debut.

Brain food

Valeo execs' carbon accountability.

Last mile

Porsche Taycan tops 100 mph — indoors.