Nissan is leading the way in sustainable logistics by testing all-electric heavy-duty trucks for delivering new vehicles to dealerships in the Los Angeles region. The automaker is using two battery electric vehicle (BEV) Class 8 trucks to transport vehicles from the Port of Los Angeles. These trucks are being provided by two leading manufacturers of electric heavy-duty trucks, Nikola and Kenworth. Logistics partner Avant-Garde Auto Logistics LLC, a woman-owned transportation company headquartered in Tennessee, is also collaborating with Nissan on this project.
To support the trucks operating from the Port of Los Angeles, Nissan has collaborated with its current logistics partner Wallenius Wilhelmsen to install a charging solution. The program is a proof-of-concept project that will help Nissan and its logistics partners understand more about the use of all-electric trucks for vehicle delivery. Following the initial trial with four BEV car hauler trucks, Nissan plans to deploy additional trucks in the Los Angeles area.
“Exploring the use of BEV trucks for new vehicle delivery is an important milestone in our journey toward carbon neutrality throughout our business,” said Chris Styles, vice president of Supply Chain Management at Nissan North America. “By being an early adopter of this technology, we’re showcasing our innovative spirit and positioning ourselves to meet our long-term goals for zero-tailpipe-emission transportation.”
The first dealership deliveries using the BEV trucks went to Downey Nissan in California and included Nissan’s all-new, all-electric crossover, the 2023 Ariya. This crossover combines the latest in Nissan’s technology and cutting-edge design and offers an option for everyone with eight well-equipped grade levels. Ariya FWD trims are on sale now, with deliveries of e-4ORCE all-wheel-drive trims to follow this spring.
Nissan’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality across its operations by 2050 has led the automaker to explore new ways to reduce emissions from other parts of its business. As part of the company’s Ambition 2030 plan, Nissan aims to have 40% of its U.S. sales be electric vehicles by 2030, with plans to electrify more of its vehicle lineup in the coming years.
As one of the first automakers to use all-electric heavy-duty trucks to transport new vehicles to dealerships, Nissan is showing its commitment to sustainability and innovative transportation solutions. This project is just the beginning of what could be a new era in green logistics and highlights the potential for electric heavy-duty trucks to revolutionize the transportation industry.
