Volvo Group partners with Pilot Co. to support electric vehicle growth

Mack Trucks, Greensboro, North Carolina, has announced that its parent company, Sweden-based Volvo Group, has signed a letter of intent with Pilot Co., Knoxville, Tennessee, to bring public charging infrastructure to medium- and heavy-duty North American customers. The partnership is expected to expand Mack's sales in the electric vehicle market. 

According to a news release from Mack Trucks, the Volvo Group and its commercial brands will provide expertise to identify which locations should be prioritized for electromobility infrastructure. This will be based on current and expected battery-electric truck adoption, customer charging requirements and the availability of federal and state funding to offset capital expenses.   

Meanwhile, Pilot Co. intends to install high-performance charging infrastructure at select Pilot and Flying J travel centers across the U.S. More than 750 Pilot and Flying J locations are throughout North America.  

The partnership with Pilot Co. will enable battery-electric vehicle (BEV) customers to access selected charging locations in high-traffic areas of North America. The goal is to ensure that BEVs have the power necessary to reach their destinations. The charging network will support the increased adoption of BEVs and help customers reach their sustainability goals.   

“Partnerships like this one are important for Mack, our industry and for society as a whole,” says Martin Weissburg, president of Mack Trucks and chairman of Volvo Group North America. “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.”  

Mack Trucks currently offers the Class 8 Mack LR Electric refuse model. Launched in March, the next generation Mack LR Electric model offers a standard 376-kilowatt-hour total battery capacity providing energy and range to meet customer performance and operational needs. Twin electric motors produce 448 continuous horsepower and 4,051 pounds per foot of peak torque output from zero revolutions per minute.  

“Pilot Co.and Mack Trucks have been synonymous with the American freight and transportation industries for decades, making this partnership a natural fit,” CEO of Pilot Co. Shameek Konar says. “Together, we will work to identify public funding opportunities and to develop the infrastructure our customers need to move toward zero-emission fleets, helping to create a better world for future generations.”  

Equipped with four nickel manganese cobalt oxide lithium-ion batteries that are charged through a 150 kilowatt, SAE J1772-compliant charging system, the LR Electric’s batteries power the vehicle and all onboard accessories through 12-volt, 24-volt and 600-volt circuits. Energy from the two-stage regenerative braking system is recaptured from the hundreds of stops the LR Electric makes each day as its load increases.