Volvo Trucks North America has reported that over the next two years, Quality Custom Distribution (QCD), a national foodservice logistics supplier, will deploy 14 Volvo VNR Electric models in its Southern California last-mile delivery routes. The trucks represent the largest single purchasing commitment of Volvo VNR Electric trucks to date, and. The fleet already received its first VNR Electric through the Volvo LIGHTS project earlier this month.
The fleet currently has 700 Class 8 trucks, half of which are Volvo VNL and VNR models. With this additional order, QCD’s total fleet of VNR Electric trucks will reach 15 by the end of 2022.
“The experience gained from this program will help accelerate battery-electric truck adoption in QCD’s fleet, as well as other last-mile delivery fleets,” said Mike Douglas, senior director of strategic procurement, QCD, which delivers to thousands of restaurants. “We are excited to partner with Volvo Trucks and VFS to put these VNR Electrics to work and begin reducing emissions throughout the region.”
Electric vehicle charging infrastructure provider Greenlots will design and install eight high-power charging stations at QCD’s Fontana distribution center, from where the zero-emission trucks will operate various delivery distribution routes within Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.
Volvo Trucks’ dealership Gateway Truck & Refrigeration will begin delivering the Class 8 battery-electric trucks, manufactured at Volvo Trucks’ New River Valley plant in Virginia, to QCD this fall.
“The real-world insights gained from these vehicles operating in QCD’s daily routes will help us continue to offer the Volvo VNR Electric to our fleet customers,” said Zach Wagner, principal for Gateway Truck & Refrigeration.
The 14 leased Volvo VNR Electric trucks and supporting charging equipment are assisted with funding by a $3.9 million grant awarded to Volvo Financial Services (VFS) from the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee’s (MSRC) Inland Port Program. The MSRC is a committee of California’s largest transportation and clean air agencies and stakeholders.
Through the Inland Port Program, a total of $37.2 million in MSRC funding is available to assist fleet owners in the Inland Empire in their transition to zero- or near-zero emission goods movement
Combined with MSRC grant funds, the VFS leases provided through the program will reduce QCD’s total cost of operating the electric vehicles, making the trucks cost-competitive with existing diesel technology.
With this purchase from QCD, Volvo Trucks now has orders for more than 100 VNR Electric models scheduled to be delivered and deployed in fleet operations throughout California over the next two years.
