Volvo Trucks launches heavy electric truck production
Volvo Trucks has started series production of its heavy-duty electric trucks. The electric versions of the FH, FM and FMX models, which have been available for order since May, are being mass-produced in Gothenburg, Sweden. Volvo will also launch production in Ghent, Belgium next year.
Volvo manufactures the FH Electric, FM Electric and FMX Electric electric trucks, which can operate at a total weight of 44 tonnes, on the same line as its combustion trucks. The batteries are supplied by the battery assembly plant in Ghent. The vehicles are the electric versions of the company’s “most important product range”. The three models accounted for about two-thirds of the company’s sales, the manufacturer said in a statement.
Volvo said it was “the world’s first truck manufacturer” to “now start series production of heavy-duty electric trucks weighing 44 tonnes”. With the three new models, Volvo Trucks is now producing a total of six electric trucks in series: the other three are the electric versions of the Volvo FE and Volvo FL medium-duty truck models and the VNR for North America.
“This is a milestone and proves that we are leading the transformation of the industry. It’s less than two years ago since we showcased our heavy electric trucks for the very first time. Now we are ramping up volumes and will deliver these great trucks to customers all over Europe, and later on also to customers in Asia, Australia and Latin America,” says Roger Alm. The three heavy-duty electric vehicle models have been available for order since May.
According to the president of Volvo Trucks, the company has already sold more than 2,600 electric trucks, including around 1,000 of the heavy-duty models. “We expect volumes to increase significantly in the next few years. By 2030, at least 50 per cent of the trucks we sell globally should be electric,” Alm added.
Recently, the Volvo Group had announced the construction of a plant in Sweden for the series production of battery cells for use in battery-electric heavy-duty trucks and machines.
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