Dependable Highway Express (DHE), the trucking transportation company for SunPower supplies, will now use a fleet of electric Volvo trucks to run warehouse distribution routes for SunPower from its Ontario, California, facility. The battery-electric Class 8 trucks will be charged by on-site solar panels installed in 2020.
“We continue to applaud our long-time customer, DHE, for its leadership in integrating zero-emission trucks and equipment into its operations, including its growing fleet of Volvo VNR Electrics,” said Peter Voorhoeve, president, Volvo Trucks North America.
In the fall of 2020, DHE became one of the first fleet operators in North America to deploy Volvo VNR Electric trucks, which have since been integrated into its daily freight transport routes throughout Southern California. This summer, DHE deployed three additional Volvo VNR Electrics and solidified its plans to take delivery of an additional 10 Volvo VNR Electric box trucks in 2022.
“As customer demands for environmentally responsible solutions continue to increase, DHE is proud to partner with Volvo Trucks to lead the way in demonstrating that battery-electric trucks are a viable solution for regional freight movement,” said Joe Finney, chief operating officer at DHE.
DHE installed more than 2,300 solar panels on the roof of its Ontario facility and employee parking canopies in 2020. The on-site solar produces more than enough power for the building, the Volvo VNR Electric fleet and employee electric vehicle chargers.
SunPower ships its products to various locations from Southern California. Adopting electric trucks enables SunPower to minimize the carbon debt of transporting products.
“As a renewable energy company committed to doing the right thing, we have to consider the impact of our entire supply chain,” said Brian Campbell, vice president of supply chain at SunPower. “In the face of today’s climate emergency, there is a collective responsibility to act now to lower carbon emissions and integrate sustainable transportation for solar and storage. We now help reduce dependence on fossil fuels from the moment our product leaves the warehouse.”
The collaboration between DHE and SunPower is managed by Kuehne+Nagel, the company that oversees transportation and logistics for SunPower’s products. SunPower and Kuehne+Nagel have also partnered on an array of other sustainability strategies, including reducing transport trips by condensing shipments into fewer trucks, and reducing total trip mileage by utilizing alternative distribution hubs.
“Logistics is responsible for approximately 7% of global emissions and Kuehne+Nagel understands our responsibility to counteract climate change,” said Bill Kascel, senior vice president, sustainability solutions at Kuehne+Nagel. “With Net Zero Carbon, we have the solutions to address all logistics emissions by 2030. It’s a shared social responsibility between customers, suppliers and us. Today’s announcement is a testament to this common mission.”
Transitioning its delivery supply chain to electric, SunPower plans to use additional Volvo VNR Electrics to transport solar PV products directly to its customers’ homes and businesses throughout Southern California. TEC Equipment Fontana, recently named Volvo Trucks’ first Volvo EV Certified Dealer in North America, will provide contracted maintenance and repairs for SunPower’s VNR Electric trucks through the premier Volvo Gold Contract service offering.
