Waste and recycling company Renova and DB Schenker and co-haulier TGM took delivery of the first Volvo all-electric trucks to go into service with customers.
The “Volvo FL Electric” is a 16-tonne electric truck which can be operated with either 100 or 300kWh lithium-ion battery packs giving it a range of up to 300km. It has an electric motor with 185kW maximum power. Charging uses either 22kW AC or fast DC charging up to 150kW which can take as little as 1-2 hours. Mains/AC charging takes around 10 hours.
Both Volvo’s FL Electric and FE Electric trucks have been developed for urban transportation, including for refuse handling and distribution and logistics. Volvo says series production of both trucks with a limited number will begin for European markets in coming months.
Roger Alm, president of Volvo Trucks, said in a recent press release on the recent launch of the two pre-series vehicles: “Our close collaboration with drivers and customers has enabled us to develop, in a short space of time, electrified transport solutions that meet high requirements in terms of performance, driving distances, cargo handling and vehicle use.”
Responsive, low-noise, all-electric trucks
The newly delivered truck’s drivers were able to test-drive the vehicles as part of their operator training and Alm says they were impressed with both the “responsive driveline, delivering fast and seamless acceleration” and the “low noise level.”
Alm goes on to iterate Volvo’s commitment to electric vehicle development: “We are steadily reducing the environmental and climate impact of our diesel and gas powered trucks, primarily through energy-efficient drivelines.”
The company hopes to form new relationships with cities aiming to improve air quality and reduce traffic noise. The electric vehicles could also help cut congestion at peak city hours as lower noise means that commercial operations can be conducted in the early or late hours of the day.
Volvo now accelerating its all-electric vehicle development
Volvo’s first electric buses launched as early as 2010 leaving a wide gap between the launch of the buses and its first heavy trucks. Tesla first demonstrated their electric trucks in 2017 and The Daimler Group has also launched a number of truck models.
Volvo premiered the FL Electric to the market in April 2018, swiftly followed by the revealing of the FE Electric. The FE Electric is Volvo’s heavier version with a weight of 27 tons and two electric motors with a total power output of 370kW. Its range of operation is slightly lower at 200km.
In September 2018, Volvo unveiled a new all-electric autonomous truck prototype called “Vera” which doesn’t even have a cab. The vehicle-maker envisages companies using this type of truck between their own locations and is seeking partnerships to develop this new type of transportation system.
Even later in 2018, Volvo began sneak previews of its electric semi in development. A version of their VNR truck which could be demonstrated on the road in California, US, in 2019 and go on sale for the North American market in 2020.