Dive Brief:

• Backed by a state grant, Greenlots will partner with Volvo Trucks to install charging infrastructure for electric trucks in warehouses in Southern California, including onsite solar panels and energy storage.
• The infrastructure — including both DC fast chargers and level 2 chargers — will run on Greenlots’ SKY enterprise software platform for consistent use across Volvo’s fleet. The installation will also include the first North American use of a heavy-duty vehicle charging standard from SAE International.
• The project is supported by a $44.8 million grant from the California Air Resources Board to the South Coast Air Quality Management District for Volvo’s Low Impact Green Heavy Transport Solutions (LIGHTS) project, part of the California Climate Investments initiative using funds from the state’s cap and trade program.

Dive Insight:

Phasing out gas and diesel trucks will go a long way to decarbonizing the transportation sector and cleaning air quality, especially in a smoggy state like California. And more charging infrastructure is necessary to convince fleet operators to make the investment in electric vehicles (EVs). Keeping trucks charged for the full length of their routes takes immense power, presenting another barrier for fleet owners.

Greenlots CEO Brett Hauser said in a statement that the companies' software can help lower costs and avoid concerns about power use by "managing energy usage to prevent high utility bills" and help fleet operators integrate EVs into the grid. Installing solar charging infrastructure at warehouse sites will also help alleviate some cost and sustainability concerns by providing a potential on-site power source.

Companies are taking steps to electrify last mile delivery vehicles, which don’t have to travel the long distances that could create range problems for electric batteries. UPS, for example, has said it wants to deploy 50 electric delivery trucks by the end of the year, with the goal of ultimately electrifying its entire fleet (the company has even tested delivery e-bikes in Seattle). Ryder has sought to integrate medium-duty electric trucks through a partnership with Chanje, and Tesla has been working on electric and autonomous trucks for long-haul shipping.