Thursday, December 13, 2018

Volvo Planning Major Electric Truck Rollout In LA

Volvo Trucks North America, the truck manufacturing arm of Volvo, says it plans on a major rollout of electric cars in the Los Angeles area, starting next year. According to Volvo, it will roll out 23, heavy-duty battery-electric trucks in 2019 and 2020, in Ontario, Chino, Fontana and Placentia, as part of a grant from the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). The grant--worth $44.8M--is part of an effort by local regulators to reduce air pollution, much of it related to shipping and transportation between the Port of Long Beach and the rest of the country. A new, electric powertrain will be added to Volvo's existing, popular VNR truck--which currently runs on diesel power. A number of other truck manufacturers, including Daimler Trucks North America, Kenworth, Tesla, and local Los Angeles startup Thor Trucks all also have electric truck testing efforts planned for the LA area.