Like so many things in the electric vehicle world, it is not some giant name in the trucking industry that is leading the way with new HGV technology but a small start-up that has big ambitions to change the way we think about inner-city parcel and freight distribution.
Formed in Sweden by co-founders, Carl-Magnus Norden and Kjell Walöen, Volta Trucks is now in a position to reveal its very first all-electric vehicle in the form of the Volta Zero: a 16-tonne CV that has been designed from the ground up to be more environmentally friendly, safer for pedestrians and vulnerable road users and more comfortable for its operative.
Powering the vehicles will be 160 – 200 kWh of battery power, and Volta Trucks has selected to fit the vehicle with Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries instead of a Nickel Cobalt Manganese set up used in most passenger cars. The Lithium Iron Phosphate battery will be highly modular, enabling Volta Trucks to adapt the vehicle to an operator’s specific requirements.
The electric motors are also unique, in so much as the motor and transmission are embedded into what Volta Trucks calls an e-Axle. This is said to increase the range thanks to better efficiency and frees up space between the chassis rails for battery storage.
This clever packaging means the design team has been able to create a glasshouse that surrounds the driver, offering a 220-degree field of view. This reduces blind spots and makes it easier for the driver to spot vulnerable road users. The truck itself is also a lot lower than many rivals, meaning the driver is at the height of pedestrians at all time for easier visual communication.
On top of this, there’s an impressive suite of advanced safety systems, including Active Steering, Road Sign Assist, and Reversing Assistant with reversing camera, ensuring drivers have the latest safety support systems when operating in the confines of the city centre. While on the move, Lane Change Assist and Lane Departure Warning systems ensure keep an eye on the surrounds to avoid accidents and collisions.
Premium quality interiors, environmentally friendly and recycled composite materials, an advanced suite of safety systems and a cutting edge electric drivetrain aren’t likely to come cheap, but Volta Trucks believes that with 90 per cent fewer mechanical parts than an equivalent traditional internal combustion engine vehicle, Volta Trucks targets the same Total Cost of Ownership, supporting the business case to migrate to electric vehicles.
Keyword: Volta Trucks reveals first fully electric 16-tonne commercial vehicle