Volvo electric trucks to be produced at NRV plant in early 2021

Volvo Trucks North America’s plant in Pulaski County will manufacture its new battery-powered VNR Electric truck model starting early next year, the company announced Thursday.

The largest Volvo truck plant in the world, the Dublin facility currently employs close to 3,000 people and builds heavy-duty trucks of multiple models. The Volvo Class 8 VNR Electric heavy-duty truck, entering the North American market next year, runs on battery electric power and produces zero tailpipe emissions.

“The Volvo VNR Electric marks a significant step forward for electromobility in an industry that we are committed to leading as it undergoes rapid, significant change,” Volvo Trucks North America President Peter Voorhoeve said in a statement. “Volvo Trucks believes and invests in sustainable electromobility. Our deep understanding of the transportation ecosystem — the technology, infrastructure and applications in the trucking industry — have enabled us to deliver a solution that is both advanced yet easy to own and operate.”

The truck will run on 264-kWh lithium-ion batteries, which charge up to 80% within 70 minutes and have an operating range of up to 150 miles, according to Volvo. The single-axle truck has a gross vehicle weight rating of 33,200 pounds, and other configurations carry up to 66,000 and 82,000 pounds.

The electric truck is the outcome of the Volvo LIGHTS (Low Impact Green Heavy Transport Solutions) project, a collaboration between Volvo, South Coast Air Quality Management District in California and other organizations and businesses to support electrification of commercial trucking, which would reduce harmful emissions. The project included fleet trials and development of dealership-based service and maintenance of vehicles, as well as best practices for battery-charging infrastructure for heavy-duty trucks.

Earlier this year, the Volvo VNR Electric model was certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board, allowing the vehicle to be commercially sold in all 50 states, and the LIGHTS project will continue to collect data in 2021 as trucks are sold. Volvo Trucks North America was awarded $20 million in grants in October to deploy 70 VNR Electric trucks in California as part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Targeted Air Shed Grant Program. The vehicles will be delivered to fleet operators next year. 

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