Freight News, Road

CN launches new pilot project using electric trucks

[ April 24, 2019   //   Gary G Burrows ]

CN recently announced that it has signed a MOU with The Lion Electric Co. for the conception, design and manufacturing of eight tandem axle, Class 8, zero-emission, electric trucks as part of its larger sustainable strategy to reduce emissions through innovation.

The trucks will be deployed in cities across the CN network such as Vancouver, as well as the Greater Toronto, Montreal, and Hamilton areas. They will be tested for different tasks from urban delivery, container shuttle service, to port operations, and cross-town service. The trucks are custom-built and engineered in Quebec to withstand North American weather and road conditions. The trucks will also produce no noise pollution and each truck will remove 100 tons of GHG from the road annually.

“This project is an example of CN’s commitment to sustainable business practices,” said Mark Lerner, Vice-President of Marketing and Business Development at CN. “By using these zero-emission trucks in different settings, we want to identify where these trucks can make the most impact on how we serve our customers and reduce our emissions. Over the last 25 years, CN has already reduced greenhouse gas emissions from its locomotives by 40% and we are constantly looking for innovative ways to continue down that path.”

Delivery of the trucks is expected in the summer of 2020. The terms of the MOU were not disclosed.

Tags: CN