“With the certification of Pacific Coast Heavy Truck Group’s B.C. location, Volvo Trucks now has certified EV dealers from coast to coast in both Canada and the U.S.,” said Peter Voorhoeve, president, Volvo Trucks North America. “We are making good on our efforts to develop the robust sales and service support ecosystem necessary to expand electromobility adoption and to support customers throughout North America with their zero-emission transportation goals.”
Pacific Coast Heavy Truck Group has nine total locations that have served the greater Vancouver area and the interior of B.C. for more than 35 years. The Langley location is the dealership’s first location to achieve the Volvo Trucks Certified EV Dealer status, with plans to certify seven total locations in the near future, including its other mainland dealerships in New Westminster, B.C., Chilliwack, B.C., and Kamloops, B.C., and three on the island of Vancouver.
“Our customers are very interested in exploring how electric trucks can be a viable pathway in decarbonizing their fleet. With the higher upfront cost of battery-electric trucks, incentives play a big role in the purchasing decision, particularly for smaller fleets,” said Bob Lawlor, Volvo sales manager, Pacific Coast Heavy Truck Group. “Our sales team is ready to help fleets take advantage of available funding opportunities and navigate the entire electromobility transition to make it as smooth as possible. We also offer a dealer-owned VNR Electric demo truck that customers can utilize for test routes to get hands-on experience with how a battery-electric truck would perform in their fleet.”
Pacific Coast Heavy Truck Group’s sales team is prepared to help customers access Canada’s Transport Ministry’s incentive program that was announced in July 2022 and provides nearly C$550 million for the purchase or lease of new medium- and heavy-duty zero-tailpipe emission vehicles. Up to C$200,000 may be awarded for the purchase or lease of each eligible new zero-tailpipe emission vehicle.
By utilizing Volvo Trucks’ electromobility TCO tool, Volvo Trucks Certified EV Dealerships can help customers assess the financial impact of purchasing and operating battery-electric trucks. The dealerships also have access to a variety of route planning and connected technology tools designed to help customers maximize the performance capabilities and benefits of the zero-tailpipe emission Volvo VNR Electric model.
The certification process ensures technicians have the proper technical training and understand all safety procedures when servicing electric drivetrains and components. Two of Pacific Coast Heavy Truck Group’s technicians have been trained to perform maintenance and repair on the Volvo VNR Electric. The dealership has also made investments in diagnostics tools and personal protective equipment for technicians working with high-voltage systems, with four service bays dedicated to servicing EVs at the Langley location.
Pacific Coast Heavy Truck Group’s state-of-the-art facility houses a high-density storage method that includes an industrial powered high-racking system, allowing the dealership to more than triple inventory square footage. The additional storage space enables the dealership to maintain a stock of key parts and components for the VNR Electric model so it can minimize service times and quickly get customers back on the road.
The dealership also has four mobile chargers to support their customers in deploying Volvo VNR Electric trucks. Three of the chargers are available for customers to utilize during the construction of their own onsite charging infrastructure.
Volvo Trucks now has certified EV dealers in California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia, as well as in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec, Canada, with several dealerships across North America finalizing their certifications in 2022 and 2023.
To learn more about Volvo Trucks North America and the Volvo VNR Electric, visit the company website
