The zero tailpipe emission Volvo VNR Electric's popularity continues to expand, and the federal and California state government are fully onboard.
The OEM has confirmed the delivery of 70 examples of the pure battery-electric semi as part of a $21.5 million funding initiative called the "Switch-On" project that's supported by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD).
The semis have already been deployed to several Southern California fleets specifically for freight distribution and drayage duties.
The Switch-On project, first announced in 2020, has since become one of America's largest commercial deployments of Class 8 battery-electric semis. It's backed by up to $19.5 million from the EPA's Targeted Air Shed Grant Program and further infused with $2 million from South Coast AQMD for the necessary charging infrastructure.
“Infrastructure development remains a challenge for fleets, even with public funding,” said Wayne Nastri, South Coast AQMD’s executive officer. “Through SWITCH-ON, fleets have explored innovative solutions to utilize battery-electric trucks despite infrastructure delays. We are committed to supporting zero-emission technology and improving air quality in our communities while enabling businesses to thrive.”
Fleets participating in the SWITCH-ON program include:
- CEVA
- IMC Logistics
- McLane
- NFI
- Performance Team, a Maersk Company
- Pier Enterprises Group Inc./DBA DC Logistics
- Western Regional Delivery Service/South Coast Transportation & Distribution
This latest batch of VNR Electrics will be collecting data on vehicle performance in the drayage and freight applications through 2025. The result will be a year's worth of operational data for each semi. Furthermore, each one is supported by TEC Equipment - Fontana which will provide local support for driver training, maintenance, and repairs.
[Related: Volvo certified EV network expands by 10 locations]
“There are challenges on the road to electromobility adoption, but through close collaboration with public entities, utilities, manufacturers and other key industry partners, we can overcome these barriers and achieve our zero-emission goals,” said Peter Voorhoeve, president of Volvo Trucks North America. “We’re pleased to say that with successful collaboration, we’ve together been able to find solutions that are critical for these fleets and have been able to deploy the 70 Volvo VNR Electric trucks. By sharing our experiences and overcoming these challenges, we are paving the way for a broader industry adoption, just as we did with the Volvo LIGHTS project and our participation in the JETSI project.”
To date, Volvo Trucks has delivered over 570 VNR Electrics across 31 states and Canadian provinces.
