Are we starting to see a transition from small-scale pilots of electric trucks to serious volume orders? Tesla has been booking some sizable orders for its Semi, and Harbinger recently announced a 2,000-truck order from FedEx.
The latest news comes from Workhorse—a company that has weathered the ups and downs of the commercial EV industry for a decade.
Gateway Fleets, a California-based provider of turnkey electric vehicle and charging solutions for commercial delivery operators, has placed a follow-on purchase order for 200 of Workhorse’s W56 electric step vans.
Gateway will purchase the vehicles through Kingsburg Truck Center, a California truck dealer, and plans to lease them to its customers, most of whom are independent last-mile package delivery providers. Deliveries are expected to begin in the second half of 2027, and to continue through 2028.
Gateway bundles purpose-built electric trucks with charging infrastructure, fleet support and depot access through flexible financing arrangements designed to enable operators to acquire EVs without large upfront capital expenditures. Gateway currently operates depots in Southern California.
“Gateway’s innovative model will help unlock wider adoption of electric trucks through its bundled pricing that eliminates the two biggest barriers to widespread adoption: the higher upfront cost of the vehicle and the added capital required to build out the charging infrastructure,” said Scott Griffith, CEO at Workhorse.
The W56 step vans available through Gateway are Standard Wheelbase (178-inch) configurations with a 210 kWh battery, 1,000 cubic feet of cargo space, a payload of 10,000 lbs and a range of 150 miles. The van features a purpose-built composite body, an ergonomic driver environment, and a platform optimized for last-mile delivery.
All W56 models are produced at Workhorse’s manufacturing facility in Union City, Indiana, which is capable of producing up to 5,000 vehicles per year on a standard shift. To date, Workhorse has delivered more than 1,100 vehicles.
“Getting the truck on the road is only the beginning. Keeping operators moving takes the right combination of infrastructure, service, and support,” said Jamie Miller, Chief Revenue Officer of Gateway Fleets. “Workhorse has brought us an innovative vehicle, while Kingsburg provides the service expertise and support our customers need in the field. Gateway brings those pieces together with the charging infrastructure and capital to make electrification work for operators.”
Source: Workhorse Group
