Volvo Vans North America staked out an early management place within the race to develop Class 8 electric vehicles and produce them for the market. Now the corporate is transferring past merely promoting vehicles. It provides a solutions-based strategy for buying, working, and servicing electric trucks to assist fleets in perceiving and deploying this new know-how successfully.
At a day-long press occasion at Volvo's New River Valley plant, which manufactures the corporate's North American product line, Volvo outlined a sequence of gross sales, service, and assist packages designed to the touch on each side of electrical truck possession. These new companies start lengthy earlier than the vehicles are even bought, with assistance in coping with authorities incentives, working with native energy corporations and municipalities to nail down charging infrastructure, purchase and lease choices, a complete upkeep program, and even assist in acquiring specialized insurance coverage for electric vehicles.
Searching for a Delicate Touchdown for Trucking
With the tip of 2022 quickly approaching, Peter Voorhoeve, president and CEO of Volvo Vans North America, opened the day by trying over the yr in the evaluation and providing some ideas as to the state of the trade in 2023.
Citing several financial elements, Voorhoeve stated that a recession was probably within the coming 14 months. However, he was famous, so that wasn't a foul factor.
"The economic system must slow down a bit," he said. "We can't maintain this tempo we've had for a couple of years with a strong economy whereas always in search of staff and coping with provide chain points. So, I believe a cooling-off interval could be an excellent factor. And I consider that may occur with a 'gentle touchdown' that may be helpful for trucking."
Looking at current Class 8 manufacturing numbers within the waning months of 2022, Voorhoeve stated he thinks the yr will shut out with gross sales someplace north of the 250,000-unit mark.
"There are many financial alarm bells and indicators. I consider a recession is coming. However, the truck enterprise in 2023 shall be a minimum of the identical degree as 2022."
' Zero Accidents. Zero Emissions.'
Turning to the topic, Voorhoeve reiterated Volvo's dedication to decarbonizing the transportation sector by decreasing the corporate's CO2 emissions by 50% by 2030 and by 100% by 2040. Doing so requires an all-in dedication to sustainability in all elements of Volvo's operations on a worldwide scale, Voorhoeve added. This consists of carbon-free manufacturing and landfill-free operations, 100% renewable power electrical energy websites throughout the U.S., and ongoing inner schooling to make the environment and sustainability a pure part of all Volvo worker actions.
"Our mission is easy," Voorhoeve stated. "Zero accidents. Zero emissions. Sustainability must be greater than an advertising and marketing slogan," he careworn. "I would like it to be seen in everything we do. If a buyer comes right into a Volvo dealership, I would like them to see instantly that sustainability is an integral part of our enterprise mannequin. We don't simply discuss this stuff. We do them."
Volvo is now actively promoting the widest variety of Class 8 electrical truck configurations in North America, Voorhoeve added. These embody VNR Electrical choices with four or six battery packs, with each straight truck and tractor fashion starting from 33,000 lbs. GVW to 82,000 lbs. GCW.
Fleets — including many high-profile ones — are using Volvo VNR Electrical vehicles in day-to-day operations throughout North America, Voorhoeve stated. However, he added, fleets that haven't ventured into new electrical vehicles have many questions about this new know-how.
"Fleets are unsure of what level of funding they should make in the present day," he stated. "There's an actual lack of restore and upkeep price understanding. They solely have restricted visibility into future battery-electric car tendencies and developments. They don't seem to be certain how one can save incentives to assist with buying the vehicles. To assist them, we should do extra than promote vehicles in the present day. Now, our mission is to assist our clients with decarbonized transport options."
Recommendation and Help at Each EV Milestone
Several Volvo choices again up this strategy. This consists of many mortgage choices for bought vehicles and each open- and closed-end lease choice. Volvo can serve fleets to navigate various state and federal EV incentive choices, which may save anywhere from $20,000 to $60,000 on the price of a brand-new electrical truck, Voorhoeve stated.
To assist fleets in unexpected offset prices often related to new applied sciences, Volvo's Gold Contract, an integral part of any VNR Electrical lease or buy, covers each side of the truck apart from tires and glass, together with upkeep and repairs, towing, and battery life/well-being administration.
Voorhoeve is famous because Volvo already has 18 dealerships in North America licensed to work on electric vehicles. All Gold Contract work is carried out by these dealerships utilizing Volvo elements and beneficial service procedures. The supplier is reimbursed for the job by Volvo, so there isn't a price for the fleet. All the things are roofed beneath the settlement, which locks in elements and labor prices on the outset so that they remain fastened, whether inflation or market calls for or provides chain points.
Volvo is stepping up its telematics and connectivity capabilities to assist electric vehicles in actual time and assist drivers and fleets mitigate early "vary anxiousness" points. This includes route simulation forward of electrical truck deployments to identify the routes finest fitted to electric vehicles. Actual-time monitoring of electrics on the job supplies low state-of-charge alerts.
On the infrastructure entrance, Volvo is working with fleets to assist start discussions with energy corporations on including EV infrastructure, in addition to several charging choices, together with direct-current, fast-charging options from as little to 1 hour to seven hours for a total battery cost, or slow-charging choices that ship a complete state of price in a single day. A new program lets fleets order charging {hardware} options straight from Volvo Vans sellers once they buy VNR Electrical vehicles.