LONG BEACH, Calif. — Volvo Trucks North America has hosted the California Air Resources Board (CARB) as CARB presented a $44.8 million check to the South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) for the Volvo LIGHTS (Low Impact Green Heavy Transport Solutions) project.
The check presentation occurred in the Volvo Trucks booth during the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in Long Beach, California.
“Volvo LIGHTS will enable us to truly demonstrate the benefits of working with an interconnected team of fleets, private electric infrastructure companies, governmental agencies and other stakeholders to help achieve valuable real-life insights to introduce and scale fully electric transport solutions on a broad basis,” said Peter Voorhoeve, president of Volvo Trucks North America. “We look forward to spearheading our part of this end-to-end project to help the industry and society develop viable electromobility solutions in support of a more sustainable future.”
The Volvo LIGHTS project is a partnership among the Volvo Group, South Coast AQMD and industry leaders in transportation and electrical charging infrastructure. The project will demonstrate the ability of battery electric vehicles to improve freight and warehouse efficiencies, reduce emissions and improve air quality.
As part of the project, Volvo Trucks will introduce all-electric Volvo VNR regional-haul demonstrators in California later this year, with vehicle sales planned to begin in 2020.
The Volvo LIGHTS project involves 16 partners and will transform freight operations at the facilities of two of the United States’ top trucking fleets. Volvo LIGHTS is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy and improving public health and the environment – particularly in disadvantaged communities.
Voorhoeve said the Volvo VNR electric vehicle will be based on the proven technology currently being used in the North American model Volvo VNR, the Volvo FE Electric and builds on the Volvo Group’s experience in electrified solutions. Volvo Buses has sold more than 4,000 electrified buses since 2010.
For more information, visit www.lightsproject.com.
The Trucker News Staff produces engaging content for not only TheTrucker.com, but also The Trucker Newspaper, which has been serving the trucking industry for more than 30 years. With a focus on drivers, the Trucker News Staff aims to provide relevant, objective content pertaining to the trucking segment of the transportation industry. The Trucker News Staff is based in Little Rock, Arkansas.
