Truck makers Nikola and Kenworth are providing two Class 8 battery-electric trucks to deliver new Nissan vehicles from the Port of Los Angeles to dealerships in the metro area.
The program to electrify the use of car haulers includes Tennessee-based logistics partner Avant-Garde Auto Logistics. Nissan also collaborated with their existing logistics partner, Norwegian-Swedish shipper Wallenius Wilhelmsen to install charging infrastructure, according to a Nissan press release.
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"Exploring the use of BEV trucks for new vehicle delivery is an important milestone in our journey toward carbon neutrality throughout our business," said Chris Styles, VP of supply chain management at Nissan North America. "By being an early adopter of this technology, we're showcasing our innovative spirit and positioning ourselves to meet our long-term goals for zero-tailpipe-emission transportation."
The proof-of-concept project will help Nissan and its logistics partners understand more about the use of all-electric trucks for vehicle delivery, Nissan stated in a press release. Following the initial trial, the automaker plans to deploy additional electric trucks in the Los Angeles area. Building on lessons learned from these projects, Nissan could eventually begin using electric trucks for a variety of logistics uses, the company stated, adding that it’s looking for more ways to decarbonize parts of its business to achieve total carbon neutrality by 2050.
