Volvo Trucks North America announced a joint effort with Volvo Financial Services, Volvo Technology of America, Shell Recharge Solutions, TEC Equipment, Affinity Truck Center, and Western Truck Center. The effort will develop publicly accessible medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicle (MHD EV) charging networks connecting several California metropolitan areas. Additionally, the California Energy Commission (CEC) awarded the group $2 million under BESTFIT for the project. The Electrified Charging Corridor Project will address key barriers to long-range MHD EV deployments as well as accelerate widespread adoption. The project will get underway in 2022, with anticipation that all five stations will be online by the end of 2023.
Peter Voorhoeve, president, Volvo Trucks North America, says the project allows MHD EVs to operate longer-mileage routes across the state. He says the group will begin project construction this year to further support fleets integrating EVs into their operations. “With the support of the CEC … we will see an accelerated progression with ripple effects across the industry.”
“Volvo Financial Services is committed to the development of new solutions and business models to enable innovative fleets to take the leap to zero emissions transportation while minimizing their required investments in private charging infrastructure,” adds Patrick Shannon, North American president at Volvo Financial Services.
CHARGING CALIFORNIA TRUCKS
During the next 18 months, the project will deploy high-powered chargers at several existing Volvo Trucks’ dealership locations throughout California. This includes TEC Equipment Oakland as well as TEC Equipment Dixon, Western Truck Center in Stockton, and Affinity Truck Centers in Fresno and Bakersfield. They will serve as an extension to chargers already available at TEC Fontana and TEC La Mirada in Southern California. Further, with publicly accessible strategically located charging stations, fleets using battery-electric trucks can complete routes across California.
Matt Androski, chief commercial officer, Shell Recharge Solutions, says this investment for the charging network is critical. It helps accelerate customer confidence in battery-electric commercial offerings, he adds. “(The project) will alleviate range anxiety for electric truck customers traveling throughout Southern, Central, and Northern California,” Androski says.
The Electrified Charging Corridor Project has the goal of enabling convenient charging for:
- Small business fleets that want to avoid making major financial investments in large-scale charging infrastructure at their site
- Fleets looking to pilot an electric vehicle through rental as well as short-term lease opportunities
- Fleets that need an OEM-neutral location to “opportunity charge” along their route.
“The Energy Commission is thrilled to support the Electrified Charging Corridor project, which will help California meet its goals for zeroing out tailpipe emissions from trucks,” says CEC Commissioner Patty Monahan. “This project will showcase refueling solutions for long-distance, zero-tailpipe emission truck travel, and may stimulate additional investments in similar corridors throughout the state, across the country, and all over the world.”
Find out more, visit the www.volvotrucks.com.
