Utah Paperbox, a business that serves most of the U.S. by building and printing boxes and paper products for various well-known companies such as Starbucks, Fat Boy Ice Cream, Caspers, and Smith Goggle, is leading the charge for change in the transportation industry. CEO Steve Keyser ordered the new electric Volvo E-Semi over two years ago, showcasing his desire to stay ahead of the curve and make a positive impact on the environment.
Keyser emphasized the importance of clean energy and its impact on clean air. By replacing a 25-year-old semi with the new electric Volvo, Utah Paperbox will take 800 gallons of diesel off the road each month. The new Volvo is set to drive routes from Salt Lake to Provo and north to Ogden, with hopes of reaching Logan and back without running out of energy.
This move is seen as one step towards a more sustainable future, with Keyser mentioning that they are the first to delve into this uncharted territory. The business is still calculating the return on investment for their half-million-dollar electric semi, which is double the cost of a new diesel version. However, they are saving $2,500 a month in fuel costs, leading them to believe it will pay for itself over the course of ten years.
The electric semi can charge in as little as 3 hours using roof-mounted solar panels at Utah Paperbox to provide electricity. With 4000 ft-lbs of torque, the electric Volvo has 15 times the power of a Tesla 3. Keyser is confident that
