The phrase “electric car” might make you think of a small, bulky microcar, but what if our buses, motorcycles, tractors and sports cars were all powered by clean energy? Michigan may be considered the motor capital of the country, but now Silicon Valley is throwing its hat in the ring, making a name for itself with automobiles that run on battery power. As the whole world shifts its focus toward reliable and sustainable solutions that can tackle climate change, leaders in the automotive industry are taking action to move away from fossil fuel reliance and toward more eco-friendly modes of transportation. Electric car companies are boldly taking on the task of designing vehicles that not only rival, but surpass their oil powered counterparts. Check out how these Silicon Valley electric car companies are bringing zero-emissions technology out of the niche and into the mainstream.
Notable Silicon Valley Electric Car Companies
- ChargePoint
- Seres
- Lucid Motors
- ZTractor
- Mercedes-Benz
- Byton
- Rivian
Founded: 2007
Where they’re based: Campbell
What they do: ChargePoint powers electric vehicles across the globe through their network of public EV charging stations. The company seeks to help facilitate greater reliance on electric powered vehicles. In addition to their public charging services, ChargePoint offers subscription plans and grid management technology to power companies.
Founded: 2016
Where they’re based: Santa Clara
What they do: Previously known as SF Motors, Seres is an automotive company that combines autonomous vehicle intelligence with electric power to engineer a car that has the capabilities of both technologies. Their autonomous electric vehicles are enabled with pathfinding AI and spatial awareness technology that allows them to reliably navigate their surroundings and anticipate detours.
Founded: 2003
Where they’re based: Palo Alto
What they do: With yearly car sales in the hundreds of thousands and over $25 billion in annual profits, Tesla is one of the most well known electric car manufacturers in the Silicon Valley region. By integrating driverless technology into their electric vehicle models, Tesla is working toward the goal of making auto technology both efficient and environmentally sustainable.
Founded: 2007
Where they’re based: Newark
What they do: Lucid Motors is focused on designing and manufacturing electric cars capable of achieving the speeds and performance of luxury sports cars. The company's vehicles are built with powertrain technology, a battery that powers up to 400 miles of driving, and with the absence of an internal combustion engine, front and rear seating for more legroom.
Founded: 2004
Where they’re based: Burlingame
What they do: Proterra's vision is a world in which public transit is powered by electric technology, manufacturing buses and other forms of mass transportation that meet zero-emissions standards. Proterra's fleet of commercial vehicles avoid fossil fuels and natural gas in favor of electric batteries and turn-key charging technology, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and making public transit cleaner. The company powers public transportation in over one hundred communities in the U.S. and Canada, and their electric vehicles also meet the transit needs of national parks, colleges, airports and other organizations.
Founded: 2013
Where they’re based: Palo Alto
What they do: Open Motors offers an open-source solution that allows automotive companies to utilize pre-existing templates and batteries to design their own models quicker. The company partners service providers like Uber and Lyft with AI and auto part manufacturers worldwide to speed up time-to-market and large scale adoption of electric technologies. Open Motors hopes that their platform facilitates an increase in development of electric vehicles in order to curb carbon emissions and a transition to sustainable travel methods.
Founded: 2017
Where they’re based: Palo Alto
What they do: Ztractor seeks to bring electric vehicle technology to the agricultural industry by building the world's first autonomous electric tractors. Their sensor capabilities not only gather information about surroundings but also collect and generate data to help maintain plant health and increase crop yield. In an effort to reduce agricultural fossil fuel reliance, ZTractor’s 100 percent electric tractors are enabled with multiple cameras and sensors to be fully autonomous, making them a more efficient alternative to traditional tractors.
Founded: 2010
Where they’re based: Campbell
What they do: Pivoting from their original work of designing and manufacturing electric sports cars, Renovo is now taking on the task of developing scalable software platforms for use in fully autonomous, zero-emissions vehicles. The company combines safety and data management technology in a platform that can be used to manage AV fleets at a low cost to encourage large-scale deployment.
Founded: 1926
Where they’re based: Sunnyvale
What they do: Known primarily for their luxury vehicles, European auto manufacturer Mercedes-Benz additionally designs and produces electric-powered cars. Their vehicles function through EQ technology, meaning they are fully electric and powered by Lithium-ion batteries. Their EQ vehicles boast advantages such as increased safety, smoother performance and greater acceleration than internal combustion engines. The company was founded in Germany, but has 93 locations across the globe, including North American research and development centers in Silicon Valley.
Founded: 2016
Where they’re based: Santa Clara
What they do: Headquartered in China with R&D centers in Silicon Valley and beyond, BYTON is an electric car manufacturer focused on integrating autonomous vehicle technology with cleantech to create the next wave of intelligent and efficient transportation. Some of the features included in BYTON's electric vehicles are 360 degree cameras, on-the-go charging, and extended battery life up to 270 miles.
Founded: 2014
Where they’re based: San Jose
What they do: NIO seeks to make users feel good about their environmental impact by generating automotive technology that ensures zero emissions and energy efficiency. Their flagship smart SUV features battery range up to 360 miles, an in-car AI system, active air suspension and voice recognition technology. Aside from their offices in San Jose, NIO has additional locations in Shanghai, Munich, Beijing and London.
Founded: 2009
Where they’re based: San Jose
What they do: Rivian's goal is to renovate the perception of electric vehicles by developing zero-emissions adventure and all-terrain vehicles. Their trucks and SUV's have all the capabilities of traditional off-road vehicles, including water fording and towing abilities, with additional battery technology to power up to 400 miles of travel. Their development centers are spread across the country, with locations in Michigan, California, Illinois, and an international office in England.
Founded: 2013
Where they’re based: San Jose
What they do: Drako Motors engineers fully electric quad motor systems to be integrated in their high-performance, high-speed supercars. Their vehicles are enabled with technology and features such as carbon ceramic brakes, parallel cooling architecture, and a high capacity inverter to ensure peak control and maneuverability for both road and track performance.
