Harbinger to Launch Hybrid Emergency Vehicles
▼ Summary
– Harbinger’s flexible electric vehicle platform will be used by emergency vehicle manufacturer Frazer to build ambulances and mobile healthcare units.
– Frazer will also become a customer of Harbinger’s new energy storage business, purchasing battery-based auxiliary power units for its vehicles.
– The deal demonstrates success for electric and hybrid commercial vehicles despite challenges in the U.S. passenger EV market.
– Harbinger’s adaptable chassis platform, which can be modified in size and powertrain, already powers RVs, delivery vans, and box trucks for various partners.
– The company has raised over $300 million to date, aided by its platform’s high part commonality across different vehicle configurations.
While the broader electric vehicle market faces challenges, commercial EV startups are finding success by targeting specific, high-value applications. Harbinger Motors, a trucking startup, has secured a significant new partnership with emergency vehicle manufacturer Frazer. The 70-year-old company will build ambulances and larger mobile healthcare vehicles on Harbinger’s hybrid electric platform, demonstrating the versatility of the young company’s technology.
The agreement, announced this week, also makes Frazer a customer of Harbinger’s new energy storage business. This dual aspect of the deal highlights how companies like Harbinger are expanding their reach beyond simply selling vehicle chassis. The startup’s progress mirrors activity elsewhere in the sector, such as Grounded in Detroit, which recently developed a fleet of mobile dental vehicles for Colgate.
According to Harbinger co-founder and CEO John Harris, the company’s strategy hinges on a single, highly flexible vehicle platform. This adaptable chassis can be modified in length and configured with various powertrains, including a range-extending combustion engine for hybrid models. This approach has allowed the platform to underpin recreational vehicles for THOR Industries, delivery vans for FedEx, and now emergency vehicles, helping Harbinger raise over $300 million in funding. “We have 99.5% part commonality across our configurations,” Harris noted. “That’s the game changer.”
For Frazer, the decision to adopt Harbinger’s technology was straightforward. CEO Laura Griffin explained that the hybrid powertrain, which is primarily electric but uses a gas engine to recharge the battery, lowers the total cost of ownership for her municipal and hospital clients while increasing vehicle uptime. “They’re doing it where it’s comparative to other medium-duty chassis, so it checks all of the boxes for us,” Griffin stated.
A critical component of the partnership involves Harbinger’s battery-based auxiliary power units (APUs), which Frazer will purchase. These units will replace traditional generators on both the new hybrid vehicles and older combustion models. This provides a clean, abundant power source for medical equipment in the field without draining the vehicle’s primary battery or engine. “We are looking for abundant clean power sources that don’t necessarily tie to the chassis,” Griffin added, emphasizing the growing power demands of modern emergency equipment.
Harris sees substantial potential in this energy storage side of the business, independent of vehicle sales. The market for auxiliary power is vast, with thousands of ambulances in service, and demand is growing in regions like California where regulations on gas generators are tightening. “We’re seeing a lot of interest from people saying, I’d be happy to save money with batteries. I would be happy to have less emissions,” he said. This move into stationary power applications represents a strategic expansion for Harbinger as it continues to diversify its commercial footprint.
(Source: TechCrunch)
