WattEV has ordered 50 Volvo VNR Class 8 electric trucks to launch its Truck-as-a-Service (TaaS) model in California. Over the next several months, the e-trucks will begin operating on routes between California’s San Joaquin Valley, Inland Empire, and the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles.

WattEV’s TaaS model offers shippers and carriers access to battery-electric trucks at a per-mile rate, including charging, that the company says is on par with the total cost of operating diesel trucks. To support its TaaS model, WattEV is building a public network of heavy-duty truck charging depots along major transportation corridors. The company’s first public truck charging depots will be located in Bakersfield, San Bernardino, and near the Port of Long Beach, and will feature 250 kW CCS chargers.

The Volvo VNR Electric models ordered by WattEV are based on its six-battery package option. They have an energy storage capacity of 565 kWh and a range of up to 275 miles.

“WattEV is thrilled to purchase our first battery-electric Class 8 trucks from Volvo Trucks as they quickly scale their electric truck supply and dealer support network across the nation,” said Salim Youssefzadeh, CEO, WattEV.

“Volvo Trucks applauds WattEV’s unique approach to accelerating fleet electrification through its TaaS model, which aims to remove potential barriers to adoption so that fleets of all sizes can get access to electric Class 8 trucks and perform local and regional delivery with zero-tailpipe emissions,” said Peter Voorhoeve, President of Volvo Trucks North America. “This type of innovative thinking is necessary to transform how the industry transports freight, and we look forward to collaborating with WattEV as they scale their TaaS fleet across California and the nation.”

Source: Volvo Trucks