After months of testing Volvo Penta’s EV driveline solution in a fleet of TICO Pro-Spotter electric terminal tractors, Penske Logistics and TICO are expanding their collaboration. A Penske-branded EV unit displayed in the TICO booth at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo will give visitors a first-hand look at the vehicle and insights gathered from this pilot project.
Penske Logistics has been working with TICO, a North American pioneer in fleet services, terminal services, and terminal tractor manufacturing, for several years. Developing a pilot project to trial TICO’s electric terminal tractor offer felt like a natural progression for the growing partnership.
“We have experienced success in running equipment with TICO,” said Paul Rosa, Senior Vice President, Procurement and Fleet Planning at Penske. “We are proud to have one of the largest and most diverse electric vehicle test fleets in the industry, and we are excited to trial the electric technology from Volvo Penta in a TICO truck.”
Volvo Penta announced the development of an emission-free, electric terminal tractor using proven Volvo Group electromobility technology together with OEM partner TICO in 2021. The Pro-Spotter EV, which entered full production in mid-2023, was designed to be a robust, highly capable and durable concept that customers can trust to have comparable performance to its traditional product line in ports, distribution centers and rail terminals.
Penske began a long-term trial of the solution in 2023 with a Tennessee-based customer, supported by a certified TICO EV dealer, to gauge performance and energy consumption along with and collecting operator feedback.
“We knew it would be mutually beneficial to partner with Penske for this type of pilot project,” said Mallery Pindar, Senior Director of Sales and Marketing for TICO. “They have a lot of electric vehicle experience already and are highly knowledgeable about the technology, which translates to offering the best possible products to the end-customer.”
Efficiency in Engineering
After collecting feedback through regular review calls with Penske and operator surveys, performance reviews have been very positive during the Pro-Spotter EV trial period, according to Pindar.
“The operators have praised the power that the Volvo Penta electric driveline system offers, the smoothness and the quiet nature of the vehicles, as well as the ability to operate in both distribution centers and public roadways,” Pindar said.
The EV Terminal Tractor driveline system was designed to reduce total weight, leading to faster acceleration, instant torque and improved efficiency. Two battery packs sit between the chassis rails, giving operators a spacious cab, with the Volvo Group two-speed gearbox offering seamless and silent shifting between gears, enhanced comfort and a better overall driving experience.
Besides helping customers reduce their carbon footprint and reach zero-emissions targets, the Pro-Spotter EV also aims to eliminate fuel costs, reduce maintenance fees and increases uptime.
A Collaborative Approach
TICO and Volvo Penta will both use ACT Expo to demonstrate ongoing efforts towards sustainable power. TICO’s booth #2916, including the Penske version of the Pro-Spotter EV, will be situated directly across the hall from Volvo Penta’s booth #2929, where attendees can get a closer look at the truck’s technology via an electric driveline display.
Working together with OEMS like TICO to develop effective solutions for customers like Penske that help meet their specific needs on the road to net zero, which is part of Volvo Penta’s multi-prong approach to decarbonization, in focus at ACT Expo. This decarbonization strategy includes off highway electrification, battery energy storage, renewable fuel combustion engines and fuel cells.
“There is no one-size-fits-all solution,” said Darren Tasker, Vice President of Industrial at Volvo Penta. “We need an ecosystem that caters to various stakeholders and combines different expertise to find the best solutions depending on the application, area of the country and specific needs. We will continue to support our OEM base to help both them and their customers reach their goals.”
ACT Expo 2024 will take place May 20-23 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
For more information, please contact:
Melissa Stewart
Marketing Communications Manager
Volvo Penta
Tel: +1-757-407-3554
Email: melissa.stewart@volvo.com
Ryan Boger
Account Supervisor
Largemouth Communications
Tel: +1-336-817-9351
Email: ryan@largemouthpr.com