The use of heavy-duty electric trucks is catching on.
Performance Team, a Maersk Company, is adding 16 Volvo VNR Electric Class 8 trucks to its transportation fleet to replace 16 diesel trucks as part of Maersk’s Environment Social Governance (ESG) strategy to decarbonize logistics.
At the same time, Hino Trucks, which less than a year ago announced that it was building a Class 8 hydrogen fuel cell electric truck, has now delivered on this promise with the reveal of its first Hino XL8 prototype powered by a hydrogen fuel cell electric drive train.
For Performance Team, the order reflects the company’s responsible procurement efforts to integrate ESG into its business activities.
“We’re seeing a 30 percent growth rate in our warehousing and distribution business,” Jason Walker, executive vice president of operations at Performance Team, said. “Customers are looking for more truck power to meet high volume delivery demands. This new order of Volvo VNR Electric trucks will give us firsthand experience on their performance carrying regional loads and environmental benefits. Our findings will help determine next steps in our fleet modernization and the electric infrastructure necessary for future operations.”
In addition to zero tailpipe emissions, the Volvo VNR Electric trucks simplify maintenance and improve working conditions for drivers by offering state-of-the-art responsiveness, a quieter cab free of engine-related vibrations, and by eliminating exposure to diesel fuel and exhaust.
“Deploying VNR Electric trucks in the very near future on logistics routes in California is a true testament to moving electromobility and sustainable transport solutions forward in the trucking industry,” said Peter Voorhoeve, president of Volvo Trucks North America.
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Built in a Dublin, Va., factory, the order will arrive in the fourth quarter and reflects the largest order of VNR Electric models to date of Volvo electric trucks.
Performance Team is participating in a State of California South Coast Air Quality Management District grant to reduce emissions in the transportation sector by replacing diesel trucks with electric trucks.
El Segundo, Calif.-based Performance Team operates a North America warehousing and distribution network of 45 locations and a fleet of 215 trucks. The company will soon integrate Maersk’s North America’s new e-commerce logistics acquisition Visible Supply Chain Management’s nine fulfillment centers for enhanced direct-to-consumer services.
Hino Trucks, a Toyota Group Company, manufactures, sells and services a lineup of Class 4-8 commercial trucks in the United States.
“It’s amazing what our team has been able to accomplish in a relative short period of time,” said Glenn Ellis, senior vice president of customer experience at Hino Trucks. “I know our customers are going to be extremely impressed with this fuel cell electric truck. We are looking forward to validating the performance, reliability and efficiency of our hydrogen fuel cell electric system in the XL Series chassis.
Headquartered in Novi, Mich., Hino has a network of more than 230 dealers nationwide.
In June, the Port of Los Angeles and its partners launched what called “a new era of pollution-free goods movement” with the debut of five hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric vehicles and the grand opening of two hydrogen fueling stations.
Under a $82.5 million Shore-to-Store project, more than a dozen public and private sector partners teamed for a 12-month demonstration of the zero-emissions Class 8 trucks and will expand the project to include five more hydrogen-fueled heavy-duty trucks, two battery-electric yard tractors and two battery-electric forklifts.
DHL Freight and Volvo Trucks partnered earlier this year to speed up the introduction of heavy duty electric trucks to be used for regional transport in Europe and beyond. The cooperation includes exclusive, worldwide pilot tests of a fully electric Volvo FH truck with gross combination weights up to 60 tons.