Technology

Coming to a restaurant near you: Battery-electric supply chain trucks

Photo: Provided.

April 2, 2021

Restaurants nationwide will soon be getting shipments via electric semi thanks to the addition of a Volvo VNR electric truck to national foodservice logistics provider, Quality Custom Distribution (QCD). The truck is the first zero-emission, battery-electric truck to be deployed in QCD's fleet of more than 700 vehicles, a news release said.

The vehicle — from Volvo Trucks North America — will begin running last-mile delivery routes to restaurants throughout Southern California from the company's warehouse in Fontana, California. QCD is leasing the Class 8 truck under the Volvo LIGHTS project, an effort of Volvo Trucks North America, the South Coast Air Quality Management District and 13 other organizations, to develop a blueprint for bringing battery-electric trucks and equipment into the market at scale.

"We are excited to partner with QCD as they begin their fleet electrification journey. Like so many of our customers, QCD depends on their vehicles to deliver every day, without compromise and without exception," Peter Voorhoeve, president, Volvo Trucks North America, said in the release. "Through the Volvo LIGHTS project, we have given consideration to every possible resource fleets need to make a successful transition to electric vehicles. By creating a holistic electrification ecosystem — from accessing grant funding to the purchase of the truck to establishing a charging infrastructure plan to providing service and support after the sale — Volvo Trucks is ensuring fleets like QCD are supported every step of the way."

Volvo Trucks North America began taking customer orders for its VNR Electric model on Dec. 3, 2020. Production of the Volvo VNR Electric is slated to begin soon at the company's New River Valley manufacturing plant in Dublin, Virginia.

A Golden State Foods company, QCD provides custom distribution services to thousands of America's restaurants through over one million last-mile deliveries annually from its 26 distribution centers.

"We are continually looking for ways to help our customers reduce their supply chain emissions and are excited to offer a battery-electric last-mile solution that can deliver," Mike Douglas, QCD senior director of strategic procurement, said in the release. "We look forward to putting the Volvo VNR Electric to work in our fleet and to more zero-emission deployments going forward."