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Dive Brief:
- Schneider National’s Freightliner eCascadia EV fleet in California has hauled customer freight for more than 1 million emissions-free miles this year, the carrier announced on Monday.
- With more strict emission rules coming stateside Jan. 1, the carrier’s EV fleet, combined with its intermodal service, provides an attractive option for the “advanced shipper” seeking to reduce emissions, President and CEO Mark Rourke said during an earnings call on Nov. 2.
- After Jan. 1, any new trucks carrying cargo at San Pedro Bay ports must be zero-emissions, part of a larger effort to start California phase out diesel trucks.
Dive Insight:
Schneider’s investment in electric vehicles and charging infrastructure could give the carrier a competitive advantage, particularly in California, EVP and CFO Stephen Bruffett said during the call.
Schneider has invested in EVs and charging technology in California for some time, taking advantage of the government grants and other resources to boost the state’s EV fleet to more than 90 electric trucks.
“We were able to take advantage of that opportunity,” Bruffett said.
EV trucks have removed about 3.3 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions, according to the carrier.
Schneider installed a nearly five-megawatt charging station at its South El Monte Intermodal Operations Center in Southern California this summer.
The company developed two electric terminal tractors at the Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., crossroads in August. Of fleet of EV tractors in the state they are used in short-haul, high-density markets in Southern California.
Jonathan Phares, assistant professor of supply chain management at Iowa State University, recognizes the potential advantage Schnieder has over its competitors. As the 2014 model year trucks reach the end of their life cycle in the coming years, Schneider will be ahead of the game, he wrote in an email to Trucking Dive.
Since California tends to set the tone for other states to follow, Schneider’s investments in the state are likely to set the stage for long-term success as zero emission rules are being rolled out nationallyPhares said.