Over the last three years, Southern California Edison has been working with the South Coast Air Quality Management District and a dozen other organizations to determine exactly what it takes to successfully put a fleet of battery-electric freight trucks into operation on a large scale.

Participants in a project known as Volvo LIGHTS, which stands for Low Impact Green Heavy Transport Solutions, teamed up to develop programs and best practices that would help lay the foundation for the successful commercialization of electric big rigs.

During the project, which ran from 2019 to 2022, Volvo Trucks deployed 30 of its VNR Electric trucks to 11 fleets in the South Coast Air Basin to collect real-world operating data and customer feedback. A Lessons Learned Guidebook was produced to document key findings from the project, including valuable insights on project management, routes, emission reduction benefits and costs.

An event to celebrate the project's conclusion was held recently at the Ontario Convention Center, featuring a display of Volvo VNR Electric trucks from project participants, including SCE.

According to Justine Chao, a senior project manager in SCE's eMobility Program Management group who was at the event, the lessons learned from the collaboration come at a pivotal time for SCE, as the electric company is ramping up its efforts to help customers electrify their medium- and heavy-duty fleets.

“We're using the data and the experiences we gained through Volvo LIGHTS to directly inform our planning efforts around electrification more broadly here at SCE,” Chao said. “Additionally, we're aiming to replicate similar levels of trust, communication and strong coordination that contributed to our success in Volvo LIGHTS as we deploy subsequent electrification projects.”

SCE collaborated with project partners on the installation and energization of 58 public and private EV charging stations. The electric company also conducted a site grid system impact study to help inform plans for supporting a future of fully electrified goods movement.

“This project shows how important it is for public and private entities to work together to bring zero-emission technologies and infrastructure to the nation,” said Ben Benoit, South Coast AQMD board chair. “Now that the project is coming to an end, we look forward to seeing these cleaner trucks on the road and the impact they will have on air quality.”

Volvo LIGHTS concludes at a critical time for the transportation industry, as many battery-electric trucks now on the market can travel more than 200 miles per charge, allowing them to take over freight hauling and delivery routes that could only recently be handled by diesel-powered vehicles. Also, the California Air Resources Board's Advanced Clean Truck Regulation requires truck sales in California, depending on class, to be 40% to 75% zero-emission by 2035.

In pursuit of its own fleet electrification goals, SCE has added a Volvo VNR Electric truck to its fleet. The electric company uses the battery-electric truck for material transport from its Irwindale warehouse to warehouses in Rialto and Westminster.

By 2030, SCE plans to convert 100% of its passenger cars and SUVs, 30% of medium-duty vehicles and pickup trucks, 8% of heavy-duty trucks and 60% of forklifts from fossil fuel to electric power.

To learn more about SCE's commitment to a clean energy future, visit edison.com/clean-energy.

To view SCE's blueprint for meeting California's 2045 goals to clean our electric grid and reach carbon neutrality, visit edison.com/pathway2045.