First Volvo VNR Electric delivered in Québec City

Volvo Trucks North America has delivered the first VNR Electric truck to Groupe Morneau for freight service in eastern Canada. Volvo Trucks photo.

Groupe Morneau, a one of Quebec’s largest freight haulers, has taken delivery of its first Volvo VNR Electric truck to operate on freight logistics routes in eastern Canada. The zero-tailpipe emission Class 8 truck was delivered to Groupe Morneau this week during at Paré Centre du Camion, the local Volvo Trucks dealership.

The Volvo VNR Electric is the first heavy-duty battery-electric Volvo truck operating in Québec City and the first Volvo VNR Electric tandem rear axle configuration in Canada, Volvo Trucks said.

“We commend Groupe Morneau for its leadership in deploying the first Volvo VNR Electric truck in Québec City and for its commitment to improve the sustainability of its fleet,” said Paul Kudla, managing director for Canada, Volvo Trucks North America. “As one of Canada’s largest transportation and logistics companies, Groupe Morneau will have the opportunity to integrate the Volvo VNR Electric into a wide variety of distribution routes and serve as an example for other area fleets that are considering their electromobility options.”

Groupe Morneau operates an extensive freight network across Québec and is a leader in TL and LTL goods movement services. The company has six lines of business, a network of 23 terminals located in 17 sites across eastern Canada, 1300 employees and 1500 pieces of equipment.

The Volvo VNR Electric is available in three configurations, a single-axle straight truck with a gross vehicle weight rating of 33,200 lb. and two tractor configurations – 4x2 with a 66,000 lb. gross combination weight rating (GCWR) and 6x2 with up to an 82,000 lb. GCWR in specific applications.

Volvo electric drivetrain

The electric driveline is a fully integrated, Volvo proprietary solution, rated 339 kW (455 hp) and generating up to 4051 lb.ft. of torque. The truck incorporates a two-speed Volvo I-Shift transmission designed to deliver smooth and efficient acceleration with excellent startability and low-speed maneuverability, Volvo said.

The truck incorporates lithium-ion batteries with a capacity of 264 kWh, which provide the vehicle an operating range of up to 150 miles based on the configuration. The batteries can be charged up to 80% within 70 minutes, Volvo said, and regenerative braking can increase range by returning power up to 15% back into the battery, depending on the duty cycle.

“This first Volvo VNR Electric truck will be our way to familiarize ourselves with battery-electric vehicles,” said Catherine Morneau, executive vice-president and general manager, Groupe Morneau. “We want to get as much data as possible regarding its capacity in terms of charge and its behavior under severe temperatures.

“Our goal is to be the electromobility leader in the industry, helping us to reduce our environmental footprint as we transition to a more sustainable supply chain for our local deliveries.”

Paré Centre du Camion is currently finalizing its requirements to become one of the first Volvo Trucks Certified Electric Vehicle Dealers in Canada. The dealership will also support Groupe Morneau with maximizing vehicle uptime by performing all scheduled maintenance with specialty trained technicians and maintaining an inventory of parts and components.