Considered the highest honor category in the program, the award was presented by SCAG during its 57th annual Regional Conference and General Assembly in early May.
“We would like to commend South Coast AQMD for their partnership and leadership on Volvo LIGHTS as the innovative project continues to receive accolades for its success. Volvo LIGHTS is a great example of a successful collaboration between public agencies and the private sector to advance regional climate goals,” said Peter Voorhoeve, president, Volvo Trucks North America.
The Volvo LIGHTS project, which started in 2019 in Southern California, brought together public and private partners to design and implement a blueprint for the robust support ecosystem necessary to deploy battery-electric trucks and equipment at scale. The project team includes South Coast AQMD, Volvo Group North America, NFI Industries, Dependable Highway Express (DHE), TEC Equipment, Shell Recharge Solutions (formerly Greenlots), Port of Long Beach, Port of Los Angeles, Southern California Edison, CALSTART, the University of California, Riverside CE-CERT, Reach Out, Rio Hondo College, and San Bernardino Valley College.
“We congratulate South Coast AQMD and Volvo Trucks for their leadership in developing a blueprint for battery-electric freight movement. Innovations such as this are critical to the health, welfare and economic viability of our region – one of the most robust goods movement corridors in the world. SCAG is proud to honor them with this award for Outstanding Achievement in Sustainability, which recognizes the best of the best when it comes to meeting our air quality goals and improving quality of life, particularly in disadvantaged communities,” said Kome Ajise, executive director of the Southern California Association of Governments.
Ben J. Benoit, Chair of the South Coast AQMD Governing Board and Mayor for the City of Wildomar, and Aravind Kailas, advanced technology policy director, Volvo Group North America, accepted the award on behalf of the Volvo LIGHTS project team at the ceremony.
“South Coast AQMD is incredibly honored to receive this award for the Volvo LIGHTS project. Not only has this project played a pivotal role in making heavy-duty electric trucks a reality, but it is a perfect example that private, public partnerships can be successful,” said Mayor Benoit. “This groundbreaking project allows us to fight climate change and reduce air pollution, bringing cleaner air to communities throughout Southern California.”
