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Automotive experts are projecting that, in three years, 25 percent of all vehicles produced worldwide will be electric powered, and by 2035, more than 50 percent of vehicles coming off auto assembly lines will be EV (electric vehicles).
Huston Electric looked at those projections and decided to expand its business into installing and supporting charging technology equipment for electric vehicles in addition to solar home energy solutions. Along the way, the company decided to put its money where its new business is by purchasing a Rivian RT-1 electric truck as a work vehicle.
Wrapped in Huston Electric’s blue and white logo, the company took delivery of the futuristic EV truck in late 2021.
“Huston Electric was…researching the EV market back in 2019,” said Matt Huston, Director of Electrical Services for the company. “We preordered our Rivian in November 2019 and received it 20 months later.”
Huston Electric has been a familiar name in commercial and residential electrical services in the area since 1939. Once it became clear that major automakers like Ford, GM, and Stellantis were switching their gasoline powered platforms to electric power, it was clear that EV technology was the path to the future for Huston.
Matt said the Rivian purchase is in line with the company’s support of individuals and businesses that have purchased and are thinking about purchasing electric vehicles.
“We have installed hundreds of residential EV chargers in garages across Indiana,” he stated. “And we have begun to get a lot of commercial interest from businesses that want to drive EV traffic.”
Rivian, whose main manufacturing facility is located in Normal, Ill., introduced its concept RT-1 four door, all-wheel drive pickup truck in 2018. The light truck, which produces 835 horsepower from its two electric motors, captivated the EV market. By June 2022 the vehicle company had 98,000 orders for the four-door pickup.
Matt commented that in the almost 11 months since their Rivian arrived the vehicle “has worked well for us so far.”
“It’s great at catching attention as our solar account executive drives it around,” he added.
Huston installs solar energy systems as well, with the thinking that solar energy and electric vehicles could both work hand in hand.
“Huston was Tesla certified in 2016,” Matt stated, “We entered the solar space because of EV charging and the electrical usage involved in the next 10 years to make EV charging truly accessible coast to coast.”
Though purchasing another EV for the business has been discussed, at this time with more choices such as Ford’s new F-150 Lightning EV pickup available to the public, Matt said the business has been “looking into it but hasn’t pulled any triggers yet.”
So far, the truck has generated some interest in Huston Electric’s EV charging installations and solar division. The company is also installing more of its own charging stations at their locations for future company EV purchases and for Huston employees who want to charge their own electric vehicles while at work.
“Huston is happy to be the local expert on EV charging and enjoys helping our community understand the real benefits and possibilities here in Indiana around this new emerging trend,” Matt said. “We see an immense amount of growth in this space.”