Tradelink Transport, a minority-owned trucking company based in Compton, California, operates a fleet of 40 Class 8 trucks, transporting a variety of products for major shipping companies between the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and nearby rail yards. The company recently purchased 15 Volvo VNR Electric trucks, which are expected to provide air quality and noise-reduction benefits to the communities located adjacent to the ports and the heavily trafficked I-110 and I-710 freeway corridors.

“Since we started our business in 1998, Tradelink Transport has demonstrated its commitment to sustainable transportation, having always used a mix of new compressed natural gas trucks and the cleanest diesel models available,” said President Rigoberto Cea. “Our drivers are excited to drive the new VNR Electric trucks. Most live within a 15-mile radius of our facility, and see how vital it is for the trucking industry to reduce its emissions and community impact.”

To determine which of its routes were the most suitable for battery-electric trucks, Tradelink used Volvo’s Electric Performance Generator (EPG) route planning tool, which takes into consideration environmental factors such as terrain, ambient temperature and traffic patterns.

“The EPG route planning tool helped us identify a driver training opportunity by highlighting that the heavy traffic around the ports will allow significant regenerative braking. This in turn can increase range by returning up to 15% of the power back to the battery,” said Tracey Craik, Regional Sales Director for TEC Equipment, which handled the sale of the e-trucks to Tradelink. “In addition to route planning and driver training, TEC Equipment has supported Tradelink Transport in growing its Volvo VNR Electric fleet by identifying [EV] funding opportunities available to fleets that operate in disadvantaged communities.”

Tradelink Transport has benefitted from some of California’s electrification incentives—10 of the 15 e-trucks were purchased with vouchers from California’s Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP). The company is also taking advantage of Southern California Edison’s Charge Ready Transport program to install 10 chargers—a mix of 180 kW and 360 kW dual chargers—paired with onsite solar panels, which will help to reduce the utility’s demand charges.

Source: Volvo Trucks