| Phoenix Cars LLC | |
| Trading Name: | Phoenix Motorcars[1] |
| Type: | Startup[2] |
| Foundation: | 2002[3] |
| Location: | Anaheim, California |
| Industry: | Automotive |
| Area Served: | United States |
| Key People: | Xiaofeng "Denton" Peng (Chairman and CEO)[4] |
| Homepage: | http://www.phoenixmotorcars.com |
Phoenix Cars LLC, d.b.a. Phoenix Motorcars, is a developer of zero emission, all-electric vehicles (EV) based in Anaheim, California,[5] United States, focused on the deployment of light- and medium-duty EVs into the fleet and transit markets.[6] The company was founded in 2002 and became a wholly owned subsidiary of Al Yousuf LLC in 2009 and of EdisonFuture in 2020. Phoenix launched its all-electric 14-22 passenger shuttle bus with 100 mile range per charge in 2013. The bus is based on the versatile Ford E350/450 Series vehicle.[7]
In November 2023, Phoenix acquired the electric transit bus division (see Proterra ZX5) and associated battery leases of bankrupt bus company Proterra for $10M; Volvo bought the battery business proper.[8] [9]
On March 19, 2008, Phoenix Motorcars announced that it had completed a financing and restructuring, with Dubai, United Arab Emirates-Al Yousuf LLC, and Arlington, Virginia-based AES Corporation, as new investors, the departure of the Phoenix Motorcars’ original founders and the appointment of a new board of directors.[10]
In mid-2010, Al Yousuf LLC closed on a deal with AES Corporation that enabled Phoenix Motorcars to become a wholly owned subsidiary of Al Yousuf LLC.[11] This led to another restructuring of Phoenix Motorcars in less than 2 years, with the company switching its focus to its 3rd generation drive system targeted for buses and trucks on the Ford E350/E450 cutaway chassis.[11] [12]
Phoenix launched its third product in 2013, an all-electric 14-22 passenger shuttle bus with 100-mile range per charge.[6]
This product achieved California Air Resources Board (CARB)[13] [14] certification in July, 2014 in the 10,001–14,000 pound GVWR range. Along with its 100-mile range per charge, the ZEUS shuttle is capable of rapid charging via CHAdeMO or SAE standards. As of 2020 they were working with a number of Southern California airports to replace shuttles with their Zeus model.[15]
Phoenix Motor Inc. recently announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued a new U.S. utility patent covering cutting edge low-floor electric bus architecture and integrated battery system design. [16]
Phoenix launched its electric Flatbed in 2015, which is also based on the Ford E350/450 Series, with 100 mile range per charge.
The ZX5 battery electric bus is built at the former Proterra plant in Greenville, South Carolina.
