Volvo Trucks North America Delivers 70 VNR Electric Trucks to California, Boosting Environmental Efforts

Volvo Trucks North America announced that it has successfully delivered 70 VNR Electric trucks to California fleets as part of the SWITCH-ON project. The project, funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD), aims to accelerate the adoption of electric commercial vehicles and improve air quality in Southern California.

The SWITCH-ON project is backed by $19.5 million from the EPA’s Targeted Air Shed Grant Program and an additional $2 million from South Coast AQMD for charging infrastructure. Participating fleets include CEVA, IMC Logistics, Maersk, and others.

The Volvo VNR Electric trucks will be used for drayage and freight applications, providing valuable data on their performance and capabilities. This information will be used to inform future developments in electric truck technology and support broader industry adoption.

“There are challenges on the road to electro mobility 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.”

The first 15 trucks delivered were the first generation of the Volvo VNR Electric, while the remaining 55 are next-generation models featuring extended range and faster charging capabilities. This marks a significant milestone in the transition to electric commercial vehicles and demonstrates Volvo Trucks’ commitment to sustainable transportation solutions.