industry
Edison Motors Reshapes Leadership as Co-Founder Departs, New B.C. Factory Opens
B.C.-based hybrid truck startup Edison Motors has opened a new factory in Donald, B.C., while co-founder Eric Little exits the executive team and board slate. The company builds diesel-electric vocational trucks and conversion kits.
B.C.-based hybrid truck manufacturer Edison Motors is undergoing a significant leadership transition just as it opens its new manufacturing facility in Donald, B.C. Co-founder Eric Little has departed the executive team and was excluded from the company's proposed eight-director board slate released in September, even as the startup celebrated its third annual Electric Go-Kart Challenge and factory opening in June 2026.
New factory, new leadership structure
Edison Motors develops diesel-electric vocational trucks and conversion systems that combine batteries and electric drive motors with an onboard diesel generator — providing electric propulsion without relying entirely on charging infrastructure. The company opened its new manufacturing facility in Donald, B.C., in June 2026 during its Electric Go-Kart Challenge, which drew more than 250 students, families, and EV enthusiasts.
On the same occasion, Edison announced a revised leadership structure. Chace Barber was reappointed CEO, Theron Groff became president, and Katie Graham was named CFO. Raymond Matkin assumed responsibility for Edison Defence, while Richard Bosch continued overseeing the company's pickup conversion program.
Co-founder exit and board changes
The most notable change saw co-founder Eric Little leave the executive team. Edison initially said Little would remain on its board and continue supporting the company, but shareholder materials released in September omitted him from the eight directors nominated for election. The proposed slate includes Barber, Groff, Matkin, Bosch, Matthew Elliott, Donville Price, Mark Tatlow, and Curtis Rodgers — an increase from six to eight directors that the board said would add experience and strengthen independent oversight.
An August offering memorandum reportedly disclosed that Edison was involved in a dispute with its former CEO arising from Little's departure. The document also reportedly showed Barber and Little each owning approximately 39.4% of the company, with Barber replacing Little as voting trustee in July. The precise nature of the dispute has not been disclosed publicly.
Barber has since said the reasons for the separation are private, and that discussing former employees publicly could create legal complications.
Big D prototype questions
Separately, social-media discussions on Reddit and other platforms have focused on Edison's Big D production prototype. Speculation increased after Royal Oilfield Rentals' decals, seen in a video posted on Edison Motors' YouTube channel last month, were removed from the truck, which then operated under manufacturer plates.
Edison has maintained that it owns Big D and that the truck remains in testing rather than commercial service. Barber said the branding was removed to avoid suggesting that an uncertified prototype had been delivered to a customer or was performing revenue-generating work. No confirmed connection exists between the Big D discussion and Little's departure.
What this means for Canadian EV trucking
Edison Motors represents a distinct Canadian approach to heavy-duty electrification: diesel-electric hybrids that don't require megawatt-scale charging infrastructure. The leadership transition and factory opening mark a critical juncture as the company moves from prototype-builder to commercial manufacturer. For Canadian fleets watching the electrification space, Edison's ability to execute on its manufacturing ramp-up while navigating governance changes will be a key signal of whether homegrown hybrid-electric trucking can scale.
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