Volvo Trucks is beginning series production of the electric versions of the company’s most important product range, its heavy-duty trucks: Volvo FM, Volvo FH and Volvo FMX. A heavy Volvo truck can have a total weight of 44 tonnes and these three models represent around two-thirds of the company’s deliveries.
With these new additions, Volvo Trucks has six electric truck models in series production globally – the broadest electric truck lineup in the industry.
“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,” says Roger Alm, President of Volvo Trucks.
Series production of Volvo’s heaviest electric trucks will start in the Tuve factory in Gothenburg, Sweden and next year the factory in Ghent, Belgium will follow. Volvo produces electric trucks on the same line as its conventional trucks, which gives high production flexibility and efficiency gains. The batteries are supplied by Volvo Trucks’ new battery assembly plant in Ghent.
The demand for electric trucks is rapidly increasing in many markets, with one driving force being the need for transport buyers to shift to fossil-free transport in order to meet their sustainability goals. Volvo Trucks’ electric portfolio could cover around45% of all goods transported in Europe today.
“We have sold more than 1,000 units of our heavy electric trucks and more than 2,600 of our electric trucks in total. These are still small numbers but we expect volumes to increase significantly in the next few years. By 2030, at least 50% of the trucks we sell globally should be electric,” comments Roger Alm.
Volvo Trucks’ electric line-up of six truck models covers a wide range of applications such as city distribution and refuse handling, regional transport and construction work.