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Virginia Transportation Corporation unveiled a new all-electric truck on Monday, which will transport newly built Honda cars from the Lincoln, Alabama plant to the nearby CSX railhead for shipment to locations across the globe.
Officials will collect data and analyze the performance of the all-electric semi-truck, which will help determine its long-term viability. A coalition that includes Peterbilt, Alabama Power, the Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition and Virginia Transportation Corporation are involved in supporting this pilot project.
“We remain committed to delivering for our customers and the environment,” said Leo Doire, owner and CEO of Virginia Transportation Corporation. “Our new Peterbilt 579EV model will be tested to determine how well it performs against the high productivity demands of our operations. The partners we have at the table will help us maximize this opportunity and prepare to scale up if we get the results we are hoping for.”
In 2011, Honda Motor Co., Inc. challenged Doire to find ways to reduce emissions in its Alabama operations. Doire accepted this challenge and gathered a team of industry leaders and formed a partnership that led to transitioning from diesel to compressed natural gas (CNG), a decision that displaced over 475,000 gallons of diesel annually.
Advancements in electric vehicles have made all-electric transport increasingly viable, which led to the development of the all-electric truck that was officially unveil Michael Staley, president of Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition, praised Virginia Transportation and said his organization remains committed to helping the company succeed. “We are committed to helping them continue their success as a leader in cutting-edge vehicle technology,” Staley said.
Hasin Gandhakwala, Electric Transportation Manager for Alabama Power, highlighted several programs designed to support customers in their decision to adopt electric vehicles and integrate them into their business operations.
“Alabama Power’s ‘Make Ready’ program provides businesses with valuable rebates to help reduce the upfront costs of installing EV infrastructure,” he stated. “We are committed to partnering with customers who are exploring state and federal grant opportunities. Alabama Power is dedicated to advancing EV technologies to better serve the needs of our customers.”
