New $15 million truck facility at Kelowna airport to focus on zero emission vehicles
A new $15-million long haul truck sales, rental and service facility is breaking ground in Kelowna today with a plan to focus on zero emission vehicles.
Velocity Truck Centres, owner and operator of the First Truck Centre in West Kelowna, is opening a new “state-of-the-art” facility at Kelowna International Airport and promises to create 40 new jobs along with training opportunities for local students when it opens around November or December this year.
The company has 18 locations all around Western Canada and has a different plan for this one, according to an email from the company’s president Rod Graham.
The facility will sell, rent and service heavy haul trucks and their parts, but the company will also aim to set up a greener future for transport trucking.
READ MORE: 'Landmark' heavy duty truck facility coming to Kelowna airport
Velocity Truck Centres is investing $15 million so this facility will have a hydrogen compliant bay so it can work on zero emissions trucks, as well as hydrogen and compressed natural gas vehicles.
“Western Canada is witnessing a rapid expansion of charging infrastructure to support growing demand for electric heavy-duty vehicles,” the company said on its website. “Government incentives and initiatives are also accelerating the development of a robust charging network, making the transition to electric heavy duty trucks smoother and more accessible.”
The facility will help students learn about the future of zero emission trucking.
“We take energy transition very seriously and we will be focused on utilizing the facility for commercial purposes as well as offering training opportunities for our local university and community college students,” Graham said.
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