Volvo is opening the books for its new Electric HGV, which it claims will change the long-haul trucking world forever.
The Volvo FH Aero Electric has been teased since last year but now the car manufacturer says that potential customers can sign up to order and that the official launch will be Q4 of this year.
As companies consider transitioning their fleets to electric, this truck has 600km range and the ability to recharge in just 40 minutes.
Significant Leap
Volvo is describing the arrival of its new flagship electric model as “a real breakthrough in zero-emission transport.” Its e-axle design means that there is more room for batteries, hence the 780 kWh installed capacity.
In a news piece on Sustainable Times, Roger Alm, President of Volvo Trucks, said: “Now, transport companies can operate really long distances with electric trucks without having to compromise on productivity. The superfast charging and high payload capacity make this a very competitive solution.”
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This truck, Volvo says, delivers too on capacity. It can haul up to 44 tons in the UK and US, and 46 tons in the Republic of Ireland when paired with a standard tri-axle semi-trailer.
The company already sells its VNR Electric models stateside, and these have an operating range of 275 miles. The page is now live for US buyers to “build their truck” for the new model.
Competition on the Road
Volvo claims it has so far delivered more than 3,800 electric trucks to customers in 46 countries around the world.
However, other companies are pushing hard too. This year will also see the arrival of a new Renault T-Model, which will also have a 600km range on a single charge.
“We believe that a range of 600 km on a single charge, combined with the development of public charging infrastructure networks by 2026 – in particular through our joint venture Milence – will enable us to achieve the operational parity [with diesel technology] that our customers expect.” – Emmanuel Duperray, Senior Vice President Electromobility at Renault Trucks
Not Just About Range
However, Duperray also added that his company is “…not looking to enter a race for autonomy on a single charge.” Instead, he argues that manufacturers need to think about how an electric truck is currently “more expensive than a combustion vehicle.”
“We need to rethink low-carbon logistics, in other words, reconsider transport patterns to optimize the use of transport vehicles and therefore reduce the cost per kilometer.” – Duperray
Electric trucks – especially delivering these sorts of ranges – are a huge step towards decarbonization, but companies also need to keep pushing the envelope in terms of design, cost efficiency, and infrastructure.
