Today, the City of Alameda announced that Tesla Motors co-founder Ian Wright will relocate his company, Wrightspeed, from San Jose to Alameda Point. Wrightspeed designs and manufactures electric powertrain units that can be easily installed in existing delivery and garbage trucks. Once outfitted with Wrightspeed’s technology, the trucks become near zero-emission, quiet, and efficient commercial vehicles. Wrightspeed is the leading manufacturer of range-extended electric powertrains for commercial trucks in the world, and counts FedEx among its growing list of customers. Backed by a California Energy Commission manufacturing grant, Wrightspeed will invest $3 million in the City-owned 110,000 square foot historic Hangar 41 at the former Alameda Naval Air Station.
“Wrightspeed’s relocation to Alameda Point is part of the trend that is fueling Alameda’s continuing growth as a hub of innovation in the alternative energy and advanced manufacturing sectors,” said City Manager John Russo. “As Wrightspeed has discovered, Alameda possesses all of the key business fundamentals companies need to succeed in today’s competitive marketplace: superior location, affordability, high quality of life, and a supportive City government.”
Moving to Hangar 41 will facilitate Wrightspeed’s creation of 280 new Bay Area jobs by 2018. Wrightspeed joins a growing list of green-tech, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing companies choosing to call Alameda home, including: Google’s Makani Power, Natel Energy, Imprint Energy, and Sila Nanotechnologies.
“This is a significant move for us and we thank both the City of Alameda and the California Energy Commission for their support in meeting our commercial scaling needs,” said Ian Wright, CEO of Wrightspeed. “Alameda Point has a rich transportation history, and we’re pleased to be part of its next iteration as a hub of commercial innovation. I know our employees and partners will find that Alameda is a great business location and a great community to call home.”
