Volvo Trucks North America (VTNA) and Volvo Financial Services
(VFS) have joined forces to form Volvo on Demand, a collaborative
initiative to change and lead the industry in the
Truck-as-a-Service (TaaS) business model. Using 25 Class 8 Volvo
VNR Electric trucks, Volvo on Demand was designed as an innovative
solution to simplify the acquisition and reduce the major upfront
investment in battery-electric vehicles. Volvo on Demand provides
qualified customers with flexible term options as short as 12
months and includes Volvo Trucks’ industry leading Gold Contract
and the option to bundle vehicle insurance for physical damage and
collision, route planning and optimization guidance, as well as
consultation to find the best charging solution and incentives that
might be available. Volvo on Demand is the next way to leverage the
established electromobility ecosystem tailored for Volvo VNR
Electric trucks in North America.
“Volvo on Demand is the easiest way for customers to add a
battery-electric truck to their fleet by providing the ability to
test the technology and understand the requirements to operate an
electric fleet without a substantial upfront investment,” said
Charles Carter, vice president, services and solutions, Volvo
Financial Services. “Volvo on Demand offers peace of mind to
customers who are just beginning their electromobility journey,
managing the unknowns and uncertainties of how to best run and
scale electric trucks in their operations. We see this solution
being exceptionally beneficial to many segments including drayage,
regional haul, last mile and smaller fleets, who are tasked with
delivering more sustainable transportation solutions for their
customers.”
With Volvo on Demand, customers can minimize the upfront
investment associated with transitioning to battery-electric trucks
and free up credit lines that can be used towards business growth.
A competitive mileage rate throughout the contract term provides
flexibility, with a single monthly invoice encompassing all
selected services, charging hardware and insurance. VFS has
kickstarted the Volvo on Demand program with 25 Volvo VNR Electric
trucks, including 20 6x4 tractors with the six-battery
configuration and five 4x2 tractors with the four-battery
configuration.
The Class 8 Volvo VNR Electric is a zero-tailpipe emission
solution which is an ideal fit for local and regional distribution,
pickup and delivery, and food and beverage distribution. The
battery-electric truck has a range of up to 275 miles (with a
six-battery configuration) and features a dedicated battery thermal
management system to maintain ideal battery temperatures. With a
250 kWh charge rate, the truck can achieve an 80% charge in as
little as 90 minutes for the six-battery package and 60 minutes for
the four-battery package. The Volvo VNR Electric truck provides
instant torque, and smooth acceleration and deceleration delivering
optimal performance and drivability and zero-tailpipe emissions.
The electric driveline also reduces vibration and in-cab noise
compared to traditional trucks which results in a more comfortable
and relaxing driving experience.
Volvo on Demand is being launched in the United States in areas
with a nearby Volvo Trucks Certified Electric Vehicle (EV)
dealership equipped to provide comprehensive support, including
preventative maintenance, service, and charging facilities to
maximize customer uptime. Volvo Trucks Certified EV Dealers have
onsite technicians who have been comprehensively trained to service
the VNR Electric safely and efficiently. With 59 locations across
31 states and Canadian provinces in North America completing the
rigorous certification program, Volvo Trucks provides a robust
ecosystem to facilitate the adoption of heavy-duty battery-electric
vehicles.
“Today we have customers who’ve successfully deployed the VNR
Electric and are continuing to seek ways to scale their operations
to include more of these trucks,” said Jared Ruiz, regional vice
president, Volvo Trucks North America. “We have a number of
customers who have expressed interest in adding the VNR Electric to
their operation but want to understand how it will fit within their
specific applications. With Volvo on Demand through VFS, they
can gain valuable experience before making large upfront capital
investments. With Volvo on Demand customers can get a single truck
or a few trucks with portable 50 kWh chargers to gain real world
experience while making plans to scale, including accounting for
potential lead times on charging infrastructure installation, with
flexible payment terms. We see this program as the next evolution
in scaling electromobility solutions by offering unmatched
financial flexibility to our customers.”
Charging infrastructure remains one of the biggest hurdles
fleets must overcome as they seek to deploy zero emission vehicles.
In 2023, Volvo Trucks introduced two programs to streamline the
electromobility transition for fleet managers, allowing them to
focus on their daily business operations while a dedicated team
works on their infrastructure installation and energization.
The Turnkey Solutions program manages all aspects of the process
to develop charging infrastructure and covers charging hardware,
software, permitting, installation, all the interaction with the
utility companies, and maintaining charging equipment. Through the
Vendor Direct Shipping program, customers and dealers can order
equipment through the dealership parts portal. Volvo Trucks sales
teams can assist customers with the process and determine the type
of charger best equipped for the application.
VFS continues to finance charging infrastructure as part of the
total electromobility transportation solution and both the Vendor
Direct Shipping and the Turnkey Solution programs are options that
enable qualified customers to bundle charging solutions with
financing or leasing solutions for battery-electric trucks.
Volvo Financial Services is the global finance arm of the Volvo
Group, one of the world's leading manufacturers of trucks, buses,
construction equipment and marine and industrial engines. Volvo
Financial Services supports the Volvo Group's brands with a full
range of offerings to customers and dealers, including financing,
leasing, and insurance solutions.
To learn more about Volvo Trucks North America and the Volvo VNR
Electric, visit the company website.
High-resolution images associated with this press release and
others are available at https://press.volvotrucks.us/.
For further information, please contact:
Kyle Zimmerman
Public Relations Manager, Volvo Trucks North America
kyle.zimmerman@volvo.com
(704) 677-9757
Volvo Trucks North America, headquartered in Greensboro, North
Carolina, is one of the leading heavy-duty truck manufacturers in
North America. Its Uptime Services commitment is delivered by a
network of nearly 400 authorized dealers across North America and
the 24/7 Volvo Trucks Uptime Center. Every Volvo truck is assembled
in the Volvo Trucks New River Valley manufacturing facility in
Dublin, Virginia, which meets the internationally recognized ISO
9001 standard for quality, 14001 standard for environmental care
and holds a dual ISO 50001/Superior Energy Performance
certification at the platinum level, indicating a sustained
excellence in energy management. Volvo Trucks North America
provides complete transport solutions for its customers, offering a
full range of diesel, alternative-fuel and all-electric vehicles,
and is part of the Volvo Trucks global organization.
Volvo Trucks supplies complete transport solutions for
discerning professional customers with its full range of medium-
and heavy-duty trucks. Customer support is provided via a global
network of dealers with 2,200 service points in about 130
countries. Volvo trucks are assembled in 12 countries across the
globe. In 2023 approximately 145,000 Volvo trucks were delivered
worldwide. Volvo Trucks is part of the Volvo Group, one of the
world’s leading manufacturers of trucks, buses, construction
equipment and marine and industrial engines. The group also
provides complete solutions for financing and service. Volvo
Trucks’ work is based on the core values of quality, safety and
environmental care.
Lawren Markle
GNA, a TRC, Company, for Volvo Trucks North America
626-773-2325
lmarkle@trccompanies.com