Dependable Highway Express has added a pair of Volvo VNR Electric trucks to it Southern California fleet of more than 500 Volvo trucks operating across North America.

As part of the Volvo Low Impact Green Heavy Transport Solutions, or LIGHTS, project, the VNR Electric trucks will be tested by DHE through the end of 2021 to demonstrate the ability for battery-electric trucks to successfully transport goods in the carrier’s daily routes.

“DHE is incredibly proud to be one of the first fleets to deploy Volvo VNR Electric trucks in North America,” said Joe Finney, chief operating officer of Dependable Highway Express. “DHE is a family-run business that considers our employees as family, which is why we want only the best for our drivers. Our drivers can’t wait to get behind the wheel of the VNR Electric trucks and put them to work.”

The trucks will be operated out DHE’s Ontario, California, facility, which manages a fleet of 40 Class 8 trucks, running daily routes between 60 to 80 miles from Ontario to warehouses throughout Southern California. The trucks will collect performance data under various operating conditions, producing real-world operational data on the trucks’ power, performance, and range, information that will help Volvo Trucks validate customization measures to provide a better transition to battery-electric trucks for its customers.  

“We look forward to DHE putting these VNR Electric truck models through the rigors of their daily operations and experiencing that same level of quality,” said Peter Voorhoeve, president of Volvo Trucks North America. 

The Volvo LIGHTS project is a collaboration with the South Coast Air Quality Management District and 13 other organizations to develop a blueprint to successfully introduce battery-electric trucks and equipment into the market at scale.  

“The Volvo LIGHTS project is figuratively paving the road toward achieving meaningful emission reductions in the freight movement sector—the largest single source of air pollution in our region,” said Janice Rutherford, San Bernardino County, second district supervisor and South Coast AQMD board member.

The Volvo VNR Electric model was recently certified by both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board, enabling the vehicle to be commercially sold in all 50 U.S. states. Beginning in 2021, Southern California businesses will have the opportunity to lease commercial Volvo VNR Electric trucks from TEC Equipment to gain firsthand experience.