Our beloved boardwalk tradition is getting a 21st-century boost. As the Wildwoods tram cars prepare for their 78th summer season, three brand-new electric vehicles are joining the fleet — a move that promises to keep the iconic "Watch the tram car, please" experience rolling for decades to come.
The addition of three fully electric Volvo EX-40 vehicles represents a significant milestone for one of the Jersey Shore's most recognizable attractions. These modern machines will help ease the strain on aging battery-powered engines, some of which have been faithfully serving boardwalk visitors for decades but have become increasingly costly and difficult to maintain.
"It is really a game changer for the tram cars and for the future of the tram cars," said Patrick Rosenello of the Wildwoods Boardwalk Special Improvement District.
A Blend of Tradition and Technology
The new electric vehicles will operate alongside five existing tram cars, fundamentally shifting how daily operations work on the boardwalk. Ken Douglass, the tram car maintenance manager, explained the new setup: "The way we're set up will be the three Volvos full time out there and five trams."
The efficiency gains are substantial. While the older batteries last about half a day and weigh more than 2,000 pounds — requiring removal just to be plugged in — the new electric vehicles can run for a couple of days before needing a charge. The cost savings are equally impressive, as Douglass noted: "If one of them goes bad, they're thousands of dollars to replace a battery."
But don't worry — the signature sound that has echoed across the boardwalk for generations isn't going anywhere. Even as the new electric vehicles glide along at their maximum speed of eight miles per hour, that familiar call will continue to remind beachgoers to make way.
A Partnership Born from Jersey Roots
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of this upgrade is the price tag — or rather, the lack of one. The Volvo vehicles come at no cost to the self-sustaining organization that operates the tram cars, which receives no government funding.
The partnership came together through a surprising connection: a Volvo executive with personal ties to the Wildwoods. With Volvo's American headquarters based right here in New Jersey, the collaboration represents a perfect marriage of local pride and corporate innovation.
"Quite frankly, too good of an opportunity for us to turn down," Rosenello said. The new vehicles will tow trailers featuring advertisements for the automaker — a small trade-off for such a significant upgrade.
Ready for Memorial Day Weekend
The new Volvo vehicles are set to arrive Saturday, May 16, 2026, giving operators about two weeks to prepare before the Memorial Day weekend rush. The timing couldn't be better as our community gears up for another busy summer season at the shore.
"This is something that is aimed at preserving the tram car experience on the Wildwoods Boardwalk and also modernizing it a little bit so that it really lasts for future generations," Rosenello explained.
For nearly eight decades, the tram cars have been an integral part of what makes the Wildwoods special. This thoughtful blend of preservation and progress ensures that future generations will continue to hear that familiar announcement echoing down the boardwalk, even as the vehicles themselves become cleaner, more efficient, and more sustainable.
