Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced the commitment of a Colorado-based electric truck maker to open a manufacturing plant in Chatsworth.
Boulder Electric Vehicle, which makes electric delivery trucks and work utility vehicles, leased a 28,000-square-foot facility and is tooling up the plant to eventually produce about 1,000 electric battery trucks per year, according to the mayor.
The plant is expected to support 30 jobs in the first year.
Villaraigosa made the announcement at the Electric Vehicle Symposium 26, where he accepted the E-Visionary Award on behalf of the city. Lisbon, Portugal and Seoul, Korea were also award recipients.
Villaraigosa touted the planned manufacturing plant as evidence of Los Angeles’ rise in prominence as an attractive location for clean technology companies.
Electric vehicle makers, CODA Automotive and BYD opened sales, design and marketing operations in the city last year.
We are proud to welcome Boulder EV to the growing sector of electric vehicle and clean-tech companies in Los Angeles,” Villaraigosa said. “Boulder EV’s manufacturing facility will bring a new edge to our growing electric vehicle industry and much needed jobs.”
Boulder EV Chief Executive Officer Carter Brown cited the city’s pro-EV policies, access to a skilled, educated work force, close proximity to the ports, and a large population leading in adoption of electric vehicles” for the company’s decision to move to Los Angeles.
The company’s trucks are capable of a 100-mile range fully loaded and 65 mph highway speed, according to a statement released by the mayor’s office.
