VTNA Deploys First Electric Class 8 at SoCal Dealership
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Volvo Trucks North America has deployed its first pilot VNR Electric Class 8 vehicle in Southern California at its TEC Equipment dealership in Fontana.
The zero-emission truck will transport local parts between TEC dealerships in Fontana and La Mirada — a round trip of 88 miles.
Starting in 2021, Southern California businesses will have the opportunity to lease Volvo VNR Electric trucks from TEC Equipment, according to the Greensboro, N.C.-based company, a brand of Volvo Group.
Big news from the #VolvoLIGHTS project ⚡⚡⚡https://t.co/QBMqfXvhAr — Volvo Trucks North America (@VolvoTrucksNA) June 18, 2020
“The all-electric Volvo VNR will become the ideal truck model for short- and regional-haul applications, such as urban distribution and drayage,” said VTNA President Peter Voorhoeve in a release.
The deployment of the pilot truck is part of the Volvo LIGHTS (Low Impact Green Heavy Transport Solutions) project, a collaboration with the South Coast Air Quality Management District and 13 other organizations to develop a blueprint to successfully introduce battery-electric trucks and equipment into the market at scale.
As part of the Volvo LIGHTS project two Southern California fleet operators — NFI Industries and Dependable Supply Chain Services — will also begin demonstrating the pilot Volvo VNR Electric in their regional routes later this summer.
The TEC Fontana dealership has two 50 kW chargers inside its truck maintenance bays, as well as a 150 kW charger located outside to enable fleet customers to fast charge at the dealership.
COVID-19 has placed significant strain on many freight networks. So how are third-party logistics providers adapting to meet these challenges? Host Seth Clevenger chats with two 3PL executives who have had firsthand experience contending with this crisis. Hear a snippet, above, and get the full program by going to RoadSigns.TTNews.com.
Over the past year, the Volvo LIGHTS team worked with Southern California Edison and San Bernardino County to install the high-power infrastructure.
VTNA’s pilot comes as the North American Council for Freight Efficiency announced the emerging opportunity for battery-electric trucks in regional haul.
“Regional operations are also fertile ground for alternate fueled vehicles because by their very nature they make it easier for the installation of fueling infrastructure for vehicles that use an energy source other than gasoline or diesel fuel,” according to the report on NACFE’s Run on Less Regional showcase involving 10 fleets running Class 7 or Class 8 on diesel or natural gas.
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