Volvo, Mack announce first Certified EV Dealer in New England

The dealership is equipped to service and support electric vehicles including the Mack LR Electric Class 8 refuse truck. (Photo: Mack Trucks)

Ballard Truck Center has become the first Certified Electric Vehicle (EV) dealer for Volvo Trucks in Massachusetts with its Tewksbury location. The fifth-generation family-owned business is also the first to be EV-certified by Mack Trucks, and is now equipped to service and support the Mack LR Electric Class 8 refuse truck.

The EV Dealer program includes a robust set of training courses designed to educate sales and service representatives so they are better able to help customers with their entire electromobility transition.

“Expanding the Volvo Trucks Certified EV Dealer network to New England is another key step in developing the full support system needed for wide-scale Class 8 truck electrification to succeed,” said Peter Voorhoeve, president, Volvo Trucks North America. “We congratulate Ballard Truck Center for being the first dealership to complete the training program in Massachusetts — making it the eighth U.S. state to have one or more Volvo Trucks Certified EV Dealerships — and commend their team’s unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction.”

“Ballard Truck Center is another example of a dealership that is committed to support both diesel-powered and battery-electric vehicles,” added Jonathan Randall, Mack Trucks senior vice president of sales and commercial operations. “Mack and Ballard are committed to helping customers achieve their sustainability goals, and we congratulate Ballard on this milestone.”

Founded in 1906 as a blacksmith shop, Ballard Truck Center operates five branch locations in Massachusetts and one in Rhode Island. Tewksbury is the first location to be EV certified, since it is well situated to support and service customers in the Boston market that are interested in adding zero-tailpipe emissions vehicles – such as the Volvo VNR Electric Class 8 model - to their fleets to achieve sustainability goals.

Sales and service representatives at Ballard Truck Center’s Tewksbury location are fully trained to help customers with their entire electromobility transition. (Photo: Volvo Trucks)

“Ballard Truck Center has been keeping New England rolling for more than 100 years, and we have continued to adapt and expand our business to meet the evolving needs of our customers,” said Robert Picking, head of business development for Ballard Truck Center. “Becoming Massachusetts’ first Volvo Trucks Certified EV Dealership is a prime example of the company’s customer-first mindset, and we are excited to now also be able to provide the support and experience needed for customers with their zero-tailpipe emission transportation goals.”

As part of the certification process, the dealership updated one of the Tewksbury location’s 11 service bays to be dedicated to battery-electric trucks and trained three of its technicians to perform maintenance and repairs covered by Volvo’s Gold Contract for its VNR Electric model. Mack also met regularly with Ballard executives to ensure a smooth process and that all standards for EV certification were met.

“Ballard wanted to be sure that we were ready to accommodate our customers for when they choose to purchase an electric vehicle,” said Robert Picking, head of business development for Ballard Truck Center. “Customers have expressed a lot of interest in electric vehicles, and the Mack LR Electric in particular, and we look forward to supporting these customers in the future.”

The 31000-sq.-ft. location maintains a $1.5 million inventory, including key parts and components for both brands’ electric models. In addition, it has a portable charger and has begun developing plans to install additional charging infrastructure as adoption of battery-electric trucks continues to grow in the region.