Volvo Trucks North America customer Pet Valu, Canada’s specialty retailer of pet food and pet-related supplies, has added two Volvo VNR Electric trucks to its fleet as part of its ongoing supply chain transformation.
The two Volvo VNR Electric trucks will operate from Pet Valu’s new 350,000-square-foot LEED-Gold-certified distribution center in Surrey, British Columbia. Five days a week, they will deliver pet food and supplies to the Pet Valu family of stores, including Pet Valu, Bosley’s by Pet Valu, Total Pet, and Tisol, throughout British Columbia, traveling an average of 300 kilometers (186 miles) per day.
EdailyPet Valu’s new Class 8 Volvo VNR Electric day cabs have a six-battery pack configuration, providing a range of up to 442 kilometers (275 miles) per charge. The trucks will be charged overnight at the Surrey distribution center using two newly installed 120kW chargers.
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“We are excited to see Pet Valu taking the initiative in the Canadian pet supply industry by adopting Volvo’s VNR Electric trucks. As they venture into sustainable transportation, this effort is expected to not only strengthen their supply chain but also help support a healthier planet, one ‘purr-fectly’ quiet kilometer at a time,” said Matthew Blackman, managing director for Canada, Volvo Trucks North America.
The near-silent operation of the Volvo VNR Electric trucks provides drivers with a more comfortable driving experience while also reducing noise pollution in local communities. This is especially beneficial for early morning or late evening deliveries to urban and regional deliveries.
In addition to deploying the trucks, Pet Valu worked with the Volvo Trucks sales team to identify and secure funding opportunities that partially offset the cost of the vehicles and charging infrastructure. Pet Valu used federal and provincial incentive programs, including Clean BC—Go Electric and iMHZEV (Incentives for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Zero-Emission Vehicles), to support the adoption of these battery-electric trucks. The company may also be eligible for carbon credits based on fuel savings and yearly mileage.
