Volvo doubles down on data with telematics and carbon footprint reporting
Volvo Construction Equipment (CE) is putting data at the heart of its decarbonization efforts as it invests in advanced telematics and beefs up its carbon footprint reporting.
Volvo Group has purchased a 22% ownership stake in VizaLogix, a software-as-a-service (SaaS) company that specializes in vehicle telematics and data collection. In addition to providing real-time machine monitoring and enhanced technical support capabilities, the telematics data will help to inform the industry’s most extensive catalogue of Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) reports – making it easier for customers to take active steps to reduce their environmental impact.
“VizaLogix provides brand-neutral SaaS solutions that are easy to integrate and use, helping fleets, dealers and OEMs make smarter decisions,” said Scott Young, head of region North America, Volvo, in a statement. “Volvo recognizes that services are growing to be just as important to fleets as their machines, and our investment in VizaLogix extends our commitment. It’s by combining the right machine with the right services that users get the best solution for their needs.”
The PCF reports released by Volvo confirm that electric machines are a more sustainable choice compared to conventional, diesel-powered machines (which, it should be noted, Volvo also sells — and at a higher per-unit profit than EVs). The reports look at a vehicle’s greenhouse gas emissions throughout its projected life cycle, and cover all steps from the extraction of raw materials, component manufacturing and machine assembly, through to battery recycling and end-of-life salvage. The principles of the methodology are based on both the global ISO standard for Life Cycle Assessment and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.
“Customers are now rightly looking with absolute scrutiny at carbon performance – on a par with other considerations like cost and quality,” says Rickard Alm, Head of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) program at Volvo CE. “With our Product Carbon Footprint reports, we are making it easier to have quick access to the information needed and enabling them to act on their decarbonization ambitions.”
You can explore Volvo’s initial PCF reports here. Be sure to bookmark the page, though — there will be more to come.
Why the VizaLogix thing is cool
As for VizaLogix, their acquisition is going to enhance not just Volvo CE’s reporting, but their ability to support their machines in the field and, ultimately, keep them running longer. The company’s products enable support for mixed fleets and mixed data connections, including:
- Vantage Point: a mining app that provides real-time data on crucial site metrics like idle times, cycle counts, and tonnage delivered
- TethrIT Now: a real-time collaboration tool that works over multiple channels, allowing augmented reality video calls that featuring helpful overlays that let users visually point, highlight, or mark areas of focus for technicians on either end of the call
- TechnicianNow: it’s telehealth for your equipment, enabling a technician to troubleshoot and diagnose machines through a mobile app that connects them with real-time parts availability to give fleet managers a comprehensive understanding of what’s happening, why, and when it will be fixed
Moving forward, the information gathered with these digital tools will help inform parts purchasing and technician training, and ultimately help build confidence in electric equipment — a crucial step in convincing fleet operators to buy electric.
Electrek’s Take
Volvo is serious about decarbonization and sustainability, and they’re pushing hard to have electric options in all their CE product lines.
The Heavy Equipment Podcast was recently joined by Mats Sköldberg, head of technology for Volvo Construction Equipment, to chat about the company’s all-new, battery-free EW240 Electric material handler (above), the expansion of their electric offerings, and more.
You can check out that HEP-isode, below, and let us know what you think of Volvo’s commitment to data in the comments.
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First Solar just cut the ribbon on a huge new factory in Iberia Parish, Louisiana, and it dwarfs the New Orleans Superdome. The company’s $1.1 billion, fully vertically integrated facility spans 2.4 million square feet, or about 11 times the size of the stadium’s main arena.
The factory began production quietly in July, a few months ahead of schedule, and employs more than 700 people. First Solar expects that number to hit 826 by the end of the year. Once it’s fully online, the site will add 3.5 GW of annual manufacturing capacity. That brings the company’s total US footprint to 14 GW in 2026 and 17.7 GW in 2027, when its newly announced South Carolina plant is anticipated to come online.
The Louisiana plant produces First Solar’s Series 7 modules using US-made materials — glass from Illinois and Ohio, and steel from Mississippi, which is fabricated into backrails in Louisiana.
The new factory leans heavily on AI, from computer vision that spots defects on the line to deep learning tools that help technicians make real‑time adjustments.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry says the investment is already a win for the region, bringing in “hundreds of good-paying jobs and new opportunities for Louisiana workers and businesses.” A new economic impact analysis from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette projects that the factory will boost Iberia Parish’s GDP by 4.4% in its first full year at capacity. The average manufacturing compensation package comes in at around $90,000, more than triple the parish’s per capita income.
First Solar CEO Mark Widmar framed the new facility as a major step for US clean energy manufacturing: “By competitively producing energy technology in America with American materials, while creating American jobs, we’re demonstrating that US reindustrialization isn’t just a thesis, it’s an operating reality.”
This site joins what’s already the largest solar manufacturing and R&D footprint in the Western Hemisphere: three factories in Ohio, one in Alabama, and R&D centers in Ohio and California. Just last week, First Solar announced a new production line in Gaffney, South Carolina, to onshore more Series 6 module work. By the end of 2026, the company expects to directly employ more than 5,500 people across the US.
Read more: First Solar pours $330M into a new South Carolina solar factory
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No, it’s not the new Bolt. GM’s design team previewed a new high-riding “sporty Chevrolet EV” that should be brought to life.
Is Chevy launching a new sporty EV?
This is the all-electric vehicle Chevy should sell in the US. General Motors’ design team released a series of sketches previewing a sporty new Chevy EV.
Although it kinda looks like the new 2027 Chevy Bolt EV as a higher-sitting compact crossover SUV, the design offers a fresh take on what it should have looked like.
The new Bolt is essentially a modernized version of the outgoing EUV model with a similar compact crossover silhouette. Nissan adopted a similar style with the new 2026 LEAF as buyers continue shifting from smaller sedans and hatchbacks to crossovers and SUVs.
Will we see the sporty Chevy EV in real life? It’s not likely. For one, the “exploration sketch” is by GM China Advanced designer Charles Huang.
GM Design posted the sketches on its global social media page, but the caption read “Sporty Chevrolet EV for the China Market.”
It’s too bad. The Bolt could use a sporty sibling like an SS variant. Chevy introduced the Blazer EV SS (check out our review) for the 2026 model year, its fastest “SS” model yet. Packing up to 615 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, the Chevy Blazer SS can race from 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds when using Wide Open Watts (WOW) mode.
Will the Bolt be next? I wouldn’t get my hopes up. And if GM does bring the sporty Chevy EV to life, it will likely only be sold in China. Like all the fun cars these days.
What do you think of the design? Would you buy one of these in the US? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
While deliveries of the 2027 Bolt are set to begin in early 2026, Chevy is offering some sweet deals on its current EV lineup, including up to $4,000 off in Customer Cash and 0% APR financing for 60 months.
Ready to test drive one? You can use our links below to find Chevy Equinox, Blazer, and Silverado EVs at a dealership near you.
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Environment
Podcast: Electricity is the base currency, Tesla Robotaxi crashes, new Porsche Cayenne EV, and more
In the Electrek Podcast, we discuss the most popular news in the world of sustainable transport and energy. In this week’s episode, we discuss electricity becoming the base currency, Tesla Robotaxi crashes, the new Porsche Cayenne EV, and more.
The show is live every Friday at 4 p.m. ET on Electrek’s YouTube channel.
As a reminder, we’ll have an accompanying post, like this one, on the site with an embedded link to the live stream. Head to the YouTube channel to get your questions and comments in.
After the show ends at around 5 p.m. ET, the video will be archived on YouTube and the audio on all your favorite podcast apps:
We now have a Patreon if you want to help us avoid more ads and invest more in our content. We have some awesome gifts for our Patreons and more coming.
Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the podcast:
Here’s the live stream for today’s episode starting at 4:00 p.m. ET (or the video after 5 p.m. ET:
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