On Tuesday, the Pilot Company and Volvo Group unveiled plans to create a network of chargers for medium and heavy duty trucks at Pilot and Flying J truck stop locations across the country.
Pilot and Volvo company leaders signed a letter of intent to partner to develop a charging network open to all battery-electric Class 8 truck brands, according to a November 15 news release.
The companies say that the chargers will be available at select Pilot and Flying J stores “which are ideally positioned along transportation corridors and are well-equipped to serve professional drivers.” The truck stops will be selected based on customer needs, current and anticipated battery-electric truck density, and the availability of public funding to support infrastructure costs.
The companies suggest that the charging network would create “an ideal opportunity for public funds from federal, state, and local agencies to accelerate the development of a high-performance charging network.”
“Pilot Company is eager to help our customers attain their sustainability goals by partnering with the Volvo Group to develop the infrastructure and systems needed to move towards a more decarbonized future,” said Shameek Konar, CEO of Pilot Company. “Volvo Group’s proven expertise in electric trucks combined with our nationwide travel center network and robust energy platform leverages our respective knowledge and resources to advance the nation’s charging infrastructure. We look forward to working together to develop a holistic solution for electrified fleets, further enabling the transportation industry’s energy transition.”
“As we work to build a more sustainable, decarbonized transport system, our team firmly believes that partnership is the new leadership. We look forward to working side by side with Pilot Company, and combining our unique industry insights, expertise, and resources to develop a comprehensive, nationwide charging network,” said Peter Voorhoeve, president, Volvo Trucks North America. “Our VNR Electric customers, as well as other fleets looking to adopt battery-electric trucks, will have peace of mind that they can access a reliable and robust, publicly accessible charging network strategically located along major transportation corridors, enabling them to extend their operating radius and decarbonize even more of their routes.”
In August 2022, Pilot announced another major partnership with Kodiak Robotics to bring autonomous truck services to Pilot and Flying J truck stops.
In March 2022, Pilot said that it would spend a billion dollars over the next few years to renovate more than 400 stores nationwide as part of the company’s “New Horizons” project.
