Fleet Electrification Efforts Unveiled at Port of Long Beach

Drayage company 4 Gen Logistics ordered 41 Volvo VNR Electric trucks to haul freight between the Port of Long Beach and Southern California’s Inland Empire — a national logistics and warehousing hub.

The order was announced during an event at the Port of Long Beach with representatives from 4 Gen Logistics, Volvo Trucks North America, TEC Equipment, Electrify America, California Air Resources Board, the Port of Long Beach, and the City of Long Beach. 

“4 Gen Logistics has a goal of operating a 100% zero-tailpipe emission fleet in 2025, and the Volvo VNR Electric trucks being deployed in Southern California are an integral part of achieving our goal,” said David Duncan, owner of 4 Gen Logistics in statement. “Feedback from our drivers showed that the Volvo VNR Electric was their preferred truck choice — from the quiet motor, smooth ride, and hauling power — which was a key factor in our purchasing decision. We look forward to putting the Volvo VNR Electric through the daily rigors of our operations and testing out the range of the next generation trucks while hauling freight.”

The next generation Volvo VNR Electric model, which began production in Q2 2022, features an operational range of up to 275 miles. 4 Gen Logistics’ Volvo VNR Electrics fleets will operate two shifts per day, making up to six runs to and from the Port of Long Beach and 4 Gen Logistics’ headquarters in Rialto, California.

“The zero-tailpipe emission, Class 8 Volvo VNR Electric is ideally suited for local and regional freight distribution and is enabling pioneering goods movement fleets throughout the region, like 4 Gen Logistics, to reduce their carbon footprint,” added VNTA President Peter Voorhoeve. “We commend the Duncan family on their commitment to both sustainable transportation solutions and driver satisfaction, and look forward to working alongside our dealer partner, TEC Equipment, to support the 4 Gen Logistics team in maximizing the benefits of their Volvo VNR Electrics.”

4 Gen Logistics purchased 40 Volvo VNR Electric next generation trucks with funding support from California’s Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP) and the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC) to reduce its impact on the communities where its freight trucks operate. One additional Volvo VNR Electric truck is being deployed as part of the Volvo LIGHTS project.

To charge its growing battery-electric fleet, 4 Gen Logistics secured about four acres from the Port of Long Beach with a 10-year agreement to build and operate truck charging infrastructure. The site will include 60 350 kW charging stations in two phases at the POLB facility and another 30 at the Rialto facility, also in two phases, which will enable 4 Gen Logistics to charge its six-battery pack Volvo VNR Electric trucks (which feature 250 kW charging capability) to an 80% state of charge in 90 minutes. As part of the 10-year agreement between 4 Gen Logistics and the POLB, Electrify America will install the charging at both the POLB location and the Rialto facility.

Dedicated Chargers

Additionally, Electrify America announced in a statement its plans to install 30 electric fleet-dedicated chargers paired with battery energy storage systems (BESS) at the Port of Long Beach, as part of Electrify America’s $25 million “Green City” investment in the region at the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles teaming with 4 Gen Logistics in this effort.   

Electrify America will provide tailored charging solutions for a fleet of electric trucks including Class 8 Volvo Trucks and Kenworth battery electric trucks. The 30 chargers will provide charging speeds of 150kW (Ultra-Fast) and 350kW (Hyper-Fast) to support 4 Gen Logistics’ pledge to have a zero-emission fleet by 2025.

Onsite, behind-the-meter battery energy storage systems will be installed at the Port of Long Beach to further facilitate the fleet-dedicated charging infrastructure. The battery energy storage systems store power when electricity costs are low and supplement power during high points of consumption, minimizing impact on the electrical grid and mitigating demand surges.

“We can have a tremendous impact by bringing electric vehicle charging technology and zero emissions trucks together to provide a more sustainable way to transport shipping containers to and from the Long Beach Port,” said Rachel Moses, Electrify America's director of commercial services, green cities and business development.. “We are grateful to 4 Gen Logistics and the City of Long Beach for supporting us in this effort to ensure a better transportation future for all in the region.”

Originally posted on Trucking Info