Volvo Trucks has started to call an end to its Volvo LIGHTS Project after three successful years. The pilot focused primarily on learning about class 8 Volvo VNR electric trucks that go through the South Coast Air Basin of California, one of the major cargo pathways in the United States. The project started in 2019 and concluded in 2022.

LIGHTS (Low Impact Green Heavy Transport Solutions) was Volvo’s project designed to assess the important necessities that will facilitate the introduction of battery electric freight trucks on California highways. This is particularly important since the transportation sector gives out the highest toxic emission rates in all areas of the U.S. economy. Unfortunately, truckers simply can’t stop hauling their freight since that would put a stop to basically all industries.

This is the main reason why companies such as Volvo and BYD have come up with a solution to introduce battery electric freight trucks instead. The challenge here is that it will take a lot of time, effort, money, and resources to complete the Volvo LIGHTS Project.

Volvo decided to partner with the South Coast Air Quality Management District of California — along with 14 other public and private entities — to make things work.

The VNR trucks from Volvo were then sent out and analyzed by their partners. The goal here is to see if these vehicles can be used effectively by the public.

Findings From the Volvo LIGHTS Project

Throughout the pilot program, Volvo collaborated with its partners to create a guide that outlines the best practices that would help make battery electric freight trucks viable for commercial use.

These were the findings from the project:

• Route efficiency: Volvo learned that there are a few essential factors that will affect the range of trucks using large batteries to power their engines. Things such as weather, traffic, hills, and driving patterns all impact how far these vehicles can go. A study to identify the most efficient routes is now underway.
• Availability of charging stations: There needs to be designated charging locations to make long-range electric hauling possible. Such understanding has led Volvo’s partners to collaborate with Shell Recharge Solutions for the installation of 58 EV chargers.
• Training and support: To help interested customers obtain their own VNR electric trucks, Volvo has formed partnerships with several dealerships to make it easier for people to secure their vehicles.

Additionally, Volvo has formed a partnership with a local organization (Reach Out) to provide training materials that will benefit first responders.

Conclusion

The Volvo LIGHTS Project, which ran from 2019 to 2022, is considered a success due to the objectives they’ve accomplished throughout the years.

Volvo’s goal of helping resolve the major issues in the transportation sector has led them to believe that their heavy-duty EV trucks are the way to go.

We should expect to see more progress concerning battery electric freight trucks in the years to come.