Low Impact Green Heavy Transport Solutions
Across the United States, more than 70% of all goods used in our daily lives—from food to manufactured products—are transported to our stores and homes by trucks. As the nation’s demand for goods continues to reach record levels, our cities are facing an increase in congestion, noise, and air pollution. The Volvo LIGHTS project in Southern California is an important step towards transforming goods movement. The project will demonstrate the ability for heavy-duty, battery electric trucks and equipment to reliably move freight between the city’s two major ports and warehouses throughout the region with less noise and zero emissions.

Volvo LIGHTS will demonstrate innovations critical for the commercial success of battery-electric freight movement:
Vehicle Technologies

  • Self-learning driveline control algorithms that optimize energy usage and range (e.g., predictive braking)
  • Web-based tools to improve vehicle uptime and maximize range (e.g., remote diagnostics, geofencing, eco-routing)
  • New lithium ion battery chemistries that increase energy density by >20% and prevent premature degradation to reduce costs
  • Multiple truck configurations with all-electric ranges of up to 250 miles
Charging Infrastructure

  • A mix of public and private electric vehicle chargers, including one of the nation’s first publicly accessible fast charging truck stations
  • Networked chargers integrated with vehicle telematics to balance the needs of the vehicle, facility, and utility grid
  • Integration of onsite solar panels to mitigate grid impacts and energy costs
  • Use of second-life batteries to improve grid and facility resiliency, provide load management, and offset total cost of ownership
Sales & Service Support

  • Established sales and service network support from of one of the world’s largest truck OEMs
  • Ability for fleets to lease battery electric trucks for real-world trials
  • Partnerships with local colleges to create programs for electric vehicle repair and service technicians, including a first-of-its-kind augmented reality-based training program

Volvo LIGHTS Project By the Numbers:
Volvo LIGHTS is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy and improving public health and the environment —particularly in disadvantaged communities. The total project cost $90 million, with a funding award of $44.8 million.
Project Partners:

LIGHTS is an extraordinary union of public and private stakeholders that have the expertise, capital, and commitment to propel battery-electric freight movement beyond the ‘demonstration’ phase into a widespread reality.