SEA Electric grows US base

Australian-founded SEA Electric, which is also in New Zealand, is charging ahead with its US-based global automotive technology company to provide immediate electrification solutions aligning with US president Joe Biden’s US$174 billion proposed investment and EV infrastructure plan.

With an established upfitting capability for 60,000 units annually, SEA Electric is growing its strategic assembly facilities and technical centres while expanding its team throughout North America to meet commercial and transit demands including trucks and delivery vehicles, school buses, and government fleets.

The company’s ‘rapid repower’ initiative enables large fleets to electrify within a cost-efficient and timely manner, SEA Electric founder and president Tony Fairweather says.

 “We’ve positioned ourselves to deliver an immediate volume solution and our recent US$42 million investment has expanded our reach with wholly owned sales and service operations throughout the country,” he says.

“In addition, our current alliance with five third-party facilities to customise and retrofit commercial vehicles offers aftermarket conversions that become very attractive to companies that can appreciate the government incentives.”

A national sales management team has been curated to meet the US demands with North America sales vice president Nick Casas leading SEA Electric’s growth.

“Key for expanding our company is a combination of individuals with strong business development backgrounds that align with massive relationship management skills,” Casas says.

“Our long-term goals go far beyond North America, including our movements throughout Canada – but our sights are already set worldwide.”

Supporting US and Canada fleet accounts larger than 1000 units is national accounts director Anna Plaza.

Her primary role includes truck and van accounts, and all Class 3 vehicle fleets that are up to 4.87 metres.

West Coast strategic account manager Tedd Rossi merges his successful automotive technology support and account management skillset within the sustainability sector to bring SEA Electric’s proprietary SEA-Drive powertrain platform to companies and organisations that can take advantage of state incentives within the Western region.

While SEA Electric’s roots remain in Australia, along with various manufacturing and technology capabilities, the company’s North American growth brings an advantage that can be replicated in Europe.

Current US upfitting facility locations include Illinois, Michigan, North Carolina, Indiana, and Iowa. SEA Electric also recently opened a new Technical Centre in Des Moines, Iowa, and will be adding facilities in Chicago, the New York/New Jersey tri-state area, and Florida later this year.

SEA Electric recently closed its latest purchase of 1000 EV batteries from technology partner Soundon New Energy Technology (China’s leading environmental protection industry enterprise).

This transaction supports SEA Electric’s proprietary SEA-Drive 70, 100, and 120 major power-system models.

While most of the initial units are slated for the US, the balance will go to SEA Electric inventories in Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia, as well as the company’s first entry into the European market.