The story
Founded by Chace Barber and Eric Little in 2021.1
In 2016, University friends Barber and Little decided to start a trucking company after graduating and purchased "Old Blue", a 1969 Kenworth.
Following mild success delivering and installing energy systems for remote locations utilizing generators, solar and batteries, the company
refocused on providing these energy systems. Rebranding itself SEI logistics, the company developed its first product, the skid solar array.
SEI next developed solar-powered light towers. Both received licensed distribution through Finning.
In November 2017, following the Tesla Semi announcement, SEI placed one of the first reservations in Canada.
In 2021, following continued delays from Tesla and the interactions of Barber on social media, the Tesla semi reservation was canceled and was replaced with plans to build their own electric truck. Edison Motors became a registered company on October 5, 2021 and operated out of Barbers's parents backyard in Merritt.
In September 2022 the proof of concept retrofit, Carl, was revealed during Hope Brigade Days.
In September 2023 the first working prototype, Topsy, was revealed during the Vancouver Everything Electric show.
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Late 2023 to early 2024, following an inability to secure property for a factory in Merritt, plans were announced to move operations into a former Hayes truck factory in Terrace. However, these plans were canceled after being unable to secure proper zoning.
May 2024, Edison held an electric go-kart build challenge and competition for secondary school students, called "Edison Motors High School EV Challenge", with plans for it to become an annual event.
April 2024, concerns from Edison led to an Auditor General investigation into potential conflict of interest with the CleanBC grant program and its administrator, MNP LLP, who also offers grant consulting.
December 2024, announced that a new property in the unincorporated community of Donald near Golden, British Columbia, was being acquired with plans to build a manufacturing shop and 2 km test track. The purchase was confirmed in January 2025.
In February 2025, Edison announced their custom brand color,, Edison Blue, hex code: #042069.
Edison made public in August 2025 that regulations by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) require generators be 'on-highway' certified. Currently generators are only certified to the near identical but ineligible 'off-highway' standard, creating a default ban on diesel-electric generators for hybrid truck production.
In September 2025 the first two production trucks were showcased at the Vancouver Everything Electric show.
February 2026, ECCC granted Edison approved to build diesel trucks with a Cummins X15.
May 2026, ECCC granted Edison approved to build hybrid trucks with a Cummins X15.
From Wikipedia’s article on Edison Motors, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.6