Pilot Company, Volvo Partner to Set up Charging Network for Electric Trucks

America is on a drive to decarbonise its transport sector. In a key development, Pilot Company or ‘Pilot Travel Centers’ and Volvo Group have signed a Letter of Intent to develop a high-performance charging network open to all battery-electric Class 8 truck brands to support fleet customers in their electrification and decarbonization journeys.

The official statement held that the strategic partnership and collaboration between two industry leaders will provide fleets with a reliable electromobility solution that further enables widespread adoption of medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks.

The chargers will be located at select Pilot and Flying J travel centers, which are ideally positioned along transportation corridors and are well-equipped to serve professional drivers. Pilot Company recently embarked on a $1 billion 'New Horizons' initiative to upgrade and prepare its locations for the future of travel, further enabling the development of charging networks for both passenger vehicles and Class 8 trucks.

Pilot Company said that chargers will be installed at mutually identified travel center locations based on customer needs, current and anticipated battery-electric truck density, and the availability of public funding to support infrastructure costs.

Shameek Konar, CEO, Pilot Company, said, "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."

The companies want to increase BEV charging capabilities and reduce the carbon footprint of the transportation industry by overcoming infrastructure roadblocks in support of medium- and heavy-duty truck electrification, creating an ideal opportunity for public funds from federal, state, and local agencies to accelerate the development of a high-performance charging network.

Martin Weissburg, president of Mack Trucks and chairman of Volvo Group North America, commented, "Mack and the Volvo Group are committed to being leaders in the transition to zero-emission transportation, and accelerating the availability of publicly accessible charging is crucial to achieving the decarbonized, sustainable future we're dedicated to helping bring about."

Pilot Travel Centers or Pilot Company has the fourth largest tanker fleet with more than 1,600 trucks that supply DEF, bio and renewable fuels, and provides hauling and disposal services to the oil field sector.