Calstart Rebrands as Catalyst Mobility, Merges with Forth
The California clean-transportation nonprofit absorbed Portland-based Forth and will open a Pacific Northwest regional office.
Calstart, the Pasadena-based nonprofit that has run zero-emission truck pilot programs and policy work for three decades, changed its name to Catalyst Mobility and merged with Forth, a Portland nonprofit focused on EV charging infrastructure.
What does Catalyst Mobility do for truck fleets?
Catalyst Mobility runs medium- and heavy-duty truck programs tied to zero-emission vehicle adoption, charging infrastructure deployment, and related policy development. The organization works with fleets, OEMs, and government agencies on pilot projects and funding applications. Michael Berube, president and CEO, announced the rebrand and merger during Forth's Roadmap Conference on September 14.
"For more than three decades, this organization has existed to catalyze a cleaner, more competitive transportation industry with our members and partners," Berube said. "This new name does not change who we are. It sharpens how we show up for the next chapter."
Forth has operated primarily in the Pacific Northwest, working on electric vehicle charging infrastructure, agriculture electrification, and micromobility projects. The merger expands Catalyst Mobility's geographic footprint and adds Forth's funding partnerships to the combined organization. Catalyst Mobility will open a regional office in Portland.
Why this matters for drayage and regional fleets
The combined organization will have a stronger presence in West Coast markets where zero-emission mandates are tightest. California's Advanced Clean Fleets rule requires drayage fleets at the ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Oakland to transition to zero-emission trucks on a rolling schedule through 2035. Oregon and Washington have adopted similar rules.
Catalyst Mobility's programs include technical assistance for fleets applying for state and federal EV incentive programs, infrastructure planning for depot charging, and pilot projects that test Class 8 battery-electric and hydrogen fuel-cell trucks in real-world duty cycles. Forth's existing charging-infrastructure work in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia gives the merged organization a network in states where West Coast governments are planning coordinated zero-emission truck corridors.
For fleets operating in multiple West Coast states, the Portland office may streamline access to regional incentive programs and charging-network planning. The organization did not announce staffing numbers or budget for the combined entity.
