Volvo Trucks to electrify entire lineup by 2021
Volvo Trucks will add battery-electric trucks to its complete model range in Europe from 2021. The EV range will then include electric trucks from 16 to 44 tonnes for logistics, waste management, regional transport and urban construction.
Volvo Trucks is currently testing the Volvo FH, Volvo FM and Volvo FMX electrically powered truck models for regional transport and urban construction operations. The vehicles will have a gross combination weight of up to 44 tonnes and, depending on the battery configuration, a range of up to 300 kilometres. Sales of the electric series will start next year, with series production scheduled to start in 2022.
Volvo Trucks has been building the FL Electric and FE Electric in series production since 2019. These vehicles are electric trucks for urban distribution and waste management up to 27 tons and mainly intended for the European market as well.
“By rapidly increasing the number of electrically powered trucks, we want to help our customers, and their transport customers achieve their ambitious sustainability goals,” says Roger Alm, President of Volvo Trucks. “We are determined to continue paving the way for a sustainable future for our industry.”
According to Volvo Trucks, an electric truck “demanding and heavy long-haul operations” is to follow this path in this decade. This will be both battery-electric and fuel cell trucks. Additionally, Volvo is developing fuel cell drives for heavy trucks in a recently formalised cooperation with Daimler Trucks, and series production is targeted for the second half of the decade.
“Our chassis are designed to be independent of the driveline used. Our customers can choose to buy several Volvo trucks of the same model, with the only difference being that some are electric and others are powered by gas or diesel,” says Roger Alm. “As regards product characteristics, such as the driver’s environment, reliability and safety, all our vehicles meet the same high standards. Drivers should feel familiar with their vehicles and be able to operate them safely and efficiently regardless of the fuel used”.
Nevertheless, Alm believes that the company’s tasks are not only to develop and build vehicles. “Our primary task is to ease the transition to electrified vehicles. We’re doing this by offering holistic solutions that include route planning, correctly specified vehicles, charging equipment, financing and services,” says the Volvo Trucks President. Stricter CO2 regulations are also pending in the commercial vehicle industry, which can only be achieved with a graduated share of electric vehicles in any segment.
From the beginning of December, the Swedes also want to sell an electric truck in North America. The Volvo VNR Electric is designed for regional transport tasks.
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