Performance Team, a warehousing and distribution company that is part of Maersk, has ordered 16 Volvo VNR Electric Class 8 trucks – the largest commercial order of the model to date.
The model will be the first zero-tailpipe emission, battery-electric Class 8 truck in the trucker’s fleet and will be on the road by the end of this year.
All 16 vehicles will carry loads across Southern California.
The acquisition of the new electric models is part of Maersk’s environment social governance (ESG) strategy to decarbonise logistics.
Performance Team is participating in a California South Coast Air Quality Management District grant to reduce transport emissions by replacing diesel trucks with electric and installing charging infrastructure.
The El Segundo, California-based company operates a North America warehousing and distribution network of 45 locations and a fleet of 215 trucks.
Jason Walker, operations EVP of Performance Team, said: “This new order of electric trucks will give us firsthand experience on their performance carrying regional loads and environmental benefits. Our findings will help determine next steps in our fleet modernisation and the electric infrastructure necessary for future operations.”