City Harvest Added Electric Trucks to Rescue Fleet

Three new Volvo VNR Electric vehicles will help boost food deliveries across New York City and the Bronx.

Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Electric Vehicles

Isometric editorial illustration of a heavy-duty electric truck parked at a charging station, representing urban logistics and clean energy fleet updates. — City Harvest has added three new Volvo VNR Electric trucks to its New York City fleet to help meet its 2026 food rescue goal. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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City Harvest has expanded its food rescue operations by adding three Volvo VNR Electric trucks to its fleet. These vehicles aim to help the organization meet its goal of rescuing 100 million pounds of food in 2026.

Why it matters

The deployment supports the $10 million Bronx Is Breathing initiative, which seeks to reduce vehicle emissions and improve air quality in the borough. These trucks will also facilitate a 25 percent increase in food deliveries to the Bronx this year.

The three new electric trucks feature battery-electric transport refrigeration units to maintain cargo temperatures. These vehicles operate within a distribution hub that supplies roughly 12 percent of the city's food.

The players

City Harvest

City Harvest is a major food rescue organization that collects excess food from restaurants, grocers, and manufacturers to feed hungry New Yorkers.

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

This state agency promotes energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources through strategic investments and technical support.

Milea Truck Sales

Milea Truck Sales is a dealership and service provider that specializes in commercial vehicle sales and maintenance support.

The details

The trucks were officially handed over at the Fulton Fish Market Cooperative, where they will initially utilize new charging infrastructure. Milea Truck Sales is providing local maintenance support for the new fleet additions.

The three Volvo electric trucks were handed over on September 24, 2026.
City Harvest plans to achieve a 25 percent increase in Bronx deliveries throughout 2026.
A public freight charging hub is expected to open in 2029.

Roadmap

This transition to electric refrigeration units marks a critical shift toward decarbonizing urban food logistics in the dense New York City market. The move positions the fleet to align with broader regional efforts to phase out heavy-duty diesel engines in favor of battery-electric alternatives.

Local residents will see an increase in food distribution capacity within the Bronx as these quieter, zero-emission trucks enter service. The shift also serves as a test case for how refrigerated logistics can transition to electric power without relying on diesel generators.

The takeaway

The integration of electric trucks into high-frequency food distribution routes shows that zero-emission tech can handle demanding commercial refrigeration needs. Residents can expect improved air quality in transit-heavy zones as more companies adopt these cleaner delivery methods.