Orange EV Fuels Local Talent with Strategic Community College Partnership

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – August 12, 2026 – At first glance, Orange EV’s announcement of a new scholarship at Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC) appears to be a laudable, yet standard, act of corporate philanthropy. But a deeper look reveals a far more strategic and symbiotic relationship taking root. The leading manufacturer of zero-emission terminal trucks isn’t just giving back; it's building its future workforce from the ground up, creating a powerful blueprint for how innovative companies can cultivate talent, drive regional economic growth, and solidify their industry leadership by investing in their own backyard.

The company, a pioneer that commercially deployed the first 100% electric Class 8 trucks in 2015, today unveiled the “Orange EV Cares Scholarship,” endowed by co-founder Wayne Mathisen. The initiative, coupled with a sponsorship of KCKCC’s Blue Devil Golf Classic, deepens the ties between the high-tech manufacturer and the local educational institution. However, this is not merely a story about a scholarship. It’s about the strategic intersection of green technology, advanced manufacturing, and community-based workforce development, offering a case study in sustainable corporate strategy.

More Than a Scholarship: A Strategic Investment

The Orange EV Cares Scholarship is tailored with precision. Available exclusively to the company’s full-time employees, it provides a direct pathway for upskilling and professional advancement. Preference is given to those enrolling in degree or certificate programs at KCKCC, a clear signal of the partnership's intent to create a closed-loop system of talent development.

"Since Orange EV's founding in 2012, our company's success has been a result of attracting and developing the best talent," said Wayne Mathisen, Co-Founder of Orange EV. "This scholarship is our way of investing in the Orange EV team members that have invested in us."

This investment is both timely and critical. With a local workforce of 365 employees and counting, the scholarship offers a tangible benefit to the people driving the company’s success. For a manufacturing employee on the factory floor, this program could mean pursuing a certificate in Automation Engineer Technology or Electrical Technology—skills that are directly applicable to Orange EV’s sophisticated production line. For a service technician, it could be an associate degree in Automotive Technology, a program KCKCC has tailored to meet Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) standards, crucial for servicing a growing fleet of complex electric vehicles.

This initiative moves beyond traditional tuition reimbursement by fostering a direct relationship with a specific educational partner, ensuring the curriculum aligns with the rapidly evolving needs of the EV industry. It’s a calculated move to retain talent, enhance productivity, and build a pipeline of skilled leaders from within.

Powering a Regional Green Economy

Orange EV's investment in its people is mirrored by its physical and economic investment in Kansas City. The company’s growth has been explosive. In mid-2023, it moved into a sprawling 400,000-square-foot headquarters and production facility in the Turner Logistics Center. This new hub, with a capacity to produce up to 1,800 terminal trucks annually on a single shift, is the engine of the company's North American dominance.

This expansion isn't just about corporate growth; it's about regional transformation. The company has hired approximately 100 people in the last six months alone and currently has dozens of open positions, solidifying its role as a cornerstone of skilled manufacturing in Wyandotte County. This commitment has not gone unnoticed. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly previously highlighted the company's over $37 million investment and the creation of hundreds of jobs as key to positioning Kansas as an “epicenter of sustainable transportation.”

By manufacturing its trucks, chargers, and battery packs in-house, Orange EV is cultivating a diverse ecosystem of high-value jobs—from engineering and software development to welding and electrical technology. The KCKCC partnership is the logical next step, ensuring a steady supply of qualified local talent to fuel this expansion.

A Blueprint for Workforce Development

The collaboration is equally strategic for KCKCC. The college has proactively positioned itself as a leader in preparing the workforce for the green economy. Recognized by the American Association of Community Colleges as one of only five institutions on its EV Hub, KCKCC is already deeply involved in the electric vehicle sector. The college recently developed a registered apprenticeship program to support Panasonic's massive new EV battery facility in nearby DeSoto, training over 120 students to date.

This partnership with Orange EV reinforces KCKCC's model of working directly with industry to address real-time skill gaps. It validates the relevance of its vocational and technical programs and provides a clear career path for its students.

"Seeing community partners like Orange EV step up to support our students is both inspiring and impactful," said Mike Crouch, Executive Director of the KCKCC Foundation. He noted that the generosity reflects a “genuine commitment to helping students succeed,” underscoring the trust being built between the two organizations.

Proving the Model: From Pilot to Profit

This community-centric strategy is built on the foundation of a proven and highly successful business model. Orange EV isn't a speculative startup; it's a market leader whose products are delivering tangible results. Its electric terminal trucks have surpassed 36 million miles and 14 million hours of operation across North America and the Caribbean.

The value proposition is undeniable. At Pier 400 in Los Angeles, the largest container port in the Western Hemisphere, a pilot program with 20 Orange EV trucks logged 42,000 operating hours with an astounding 98.8% uptime. This reliability translated into over $200,000 in cost savings and eliminated the consumption of 40,700 gallons of diesel in just one year. The success was so profound that the operator, APM Terminals, plans to triple its fleet to 60 Orange EV trucks.

With a recent order for 600 trucks—the company's largest single order to date—demand is clearly surging. This business momentum provides the financial stability and long-term vision necessary to make meaningful, sustained investments in its workforce and community. The scholarship is not a cost center; it is a vital component of a growth strategy that links operational excellence with human capital, ensuring that as Orange EV continues to lead the charge in industrial electrification, it brings its community and its employees along with it.