New technologies bring a host of questions and, in the case of battery-electric vehicles, customers are understandably paying attention as to whether those vehicles' batteries will lose strength and, therefore, range, while operating in hot and cool outside temperatures. Labatt Breweries of Canada will soon find out as it has placed a 10-unit order for the all-new Volvo VNR Electric Class 8 battery-electric semi.
Volvo Trucks of North America and Labatt, one of Canada's most famous brands, have jointly announced the addition of these VNR Electrics to the beer and beverage maker's distribution centers in Montreal and Bois-des-Filion for customer deliveries in Montreal and on the north shore of the city.
“We have seen increasing demand for battery-electric vehicles (BEV) in Canada, particularly in Ontario and Quebec, helping customers make progress towards their decarbonization goals by adopting BEVs,” said Matthew Blackman, managing director for Canada, Volvo Trucks North America. “We are proud to support Labatt’s leadership in sustainable transportation solutions and their commitment to minimizing their environmental impact with these zero-tailpipe emission trucks.”
[Related: Volvo Trucks delivers 70 VNR Electrics thanks to $21.5 million fund]
The zero-emission Volvo VNR Electric boasts a four battery configuration with a 230-mile range on a single charge. An 80 percent charge requires about 60 minutes and Labatt says it already has onsite charging infrastructure at distribution centers. The VNRs will be running daily routes from 31 miles (50 km) to 68 miles (110 km).
Earlier this month, Volvo confirmed the VNR Electric surpassed 10 million miles of zero-tailpipe emissions in customer operations since the order books opened in December 2020. The VNR is manufactured at Volvo's 2.3 million square-foot New River Valley Assembly Plant in Dublin, Virginia - the largest truck manufacturing facility in the world.
[Related: Volvo's Certified EV dealer network expands again]
Driver training, led by GSH Camions Volvo Montreal, provided drivers with vital operating knowledge, specifically how to leverage regenerative braking which adds battery power. With additional assistance from GSH, Labatt secured funding to help offset the initial BEV truck investment through Canada's Incentives for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Zero-Emissions Vehicles (iMHZEV) and Quebec's Ecocamionnage government programs.
“Labatt is committed to innovation and sustainability, and these Volvo VNR Electric trucks represent an additional step towards our goal of achieving net-zero emissions across our operations nationwide by 2040,” said Sarah Genetti, senior director of procurement and sustainability at Labatt Breweries of Canada. “We believe in leading change and investing in technologies that create long-term value for our customers, the environment, and the communities we serve.”
[RELATED: 4 Gen Logistics deploys Volvo VNR Electric truck fleet in Southern California]
In the U.S, Volvo has so far deployed around 570 VNRs across 31 states.
