Volvo Trucks North America has delivered 70 VNR electric trucks to various fleets in Southern California as part of the SWITCH-ON initiative.
These trucks, designed for regional transport and drayage, are supported by subsidies under the programme aimed at improving air quality.
The delivery includes 15 units of the first-generation Volvo VNR Electric trucks, with the remaining 55 featuring extended range and faster charging capabilities. The trucks will collect data through 2025 to provide insights into electric trucking operations.
“Infrastructure development remains a challenge for fleets, even with public funding,” said Wayne Nastri, Executive Officer of South Coast AQMD, highlighting the ongoing hurdles for electric vehicle adoption.
The SWITCH-ON project, supported by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the South Coast Air Quality Management District, represents a $21.5 million initiative and one of the largest commercial deployments of Class 8 battery-electric trucks in the US.
Volvo Trucks is also promoting its Truck-as-a-Service (TaaS) model, ‘Volvo on demand,’ to make electric mobility more accessible for businesses by reducing upfront investment costs.
To date, Volvo Trucks has delivered over 570 VNR Electric trucks across 31 US states and Canadian provinces, further establishing its presence in the heavy-duty electric truck market.
