Volvo Trucks has announced an expansion of its range of electric truck models, adding several new models to its heavy-duty electric truck lineup. The new models include rigid versions of the Volvo Heavy-duty Electric Truck for use in cranes, waste compacts and cement mixers, among other uses. According to Volvo, the new truck comes with a variety of battery, cab and chassis options that enable the new truck to perform specialized transportation tasks, including cargo distribution, garbage collection and construction work.
Roger Alm, president of Volvo Trucks, said the new electric trucks are making electric vehicles more accessible to more customers than ever before, allowing cities to shift almost all of their traffic to zero-emission vehicles. Customers can also personalize these trucks for their specific operations, reducing emissions while getting the same features as the diesel trucks they use today.
Volvo Trucks launched its Volvo FL electric Truck and Volvo FE Electric Medium truck in Europe in 2019. In 2020, Volvo introduced its first heavy-duty electric truck, which began mass production in September this year. The trucks will have a combined weight of 44 tons and a range of up to 300 kilometers, depending on battery configuration.
The company also said it intends to add battery-electric and fuel-cell electric trucks with longer ranges by 2030. To help the company achieve this goal, Volvo has formed a joint venture, Daimler Truck AG, to focus on the development, production and commercialization of hydrogen fuel cell systems, primarily for heavy-duty trucks.
In October, Volvo announced a deal with Amazon to deliver 20 heavy-duty trucks to Amazon Germany by the end of the year. Decarbonizing the fleet is part of Amazon's strategy to achieve net zero emissions across its entire operation by 2040. Amazon has announced a major investment in last-mile electric vehicles.
Andreas Marschner, vice president of Amazon's European shipping services, said the middle mile had been a well-known problem and the Volvo order also became "a key milestone."
Volvo's electric trucks could replace Amazon's diesel counterparts, increase electrification measures across the transport chain and reduce carbon emissions from transport, which are currently responsible for 36% of Germany's carbon emissions from heavy goods and commercial vehicles.
Production of the new truck is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2023. Volvo has set a goal of 50 percent battery - or fuel-cell electric transportation by 2030.
Jessica Sandstr o m, senior vice president of Product Management at Volvo Trucks, said leading companies in the transportation industry play a key role in leading the industry's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint, and Volvo now has six electric truck models that can be ordered and mass-produced to meet the growing demand for decarbonizing cargo transportation.