Volvo Trucks has introduced its first all-electric truck for commercial use – the Volvo FL Electric is made for urban distribution and refuse operations, among other applications. Sales and series production of the new model will start in Europe next year. With this introduction, Volvo Trucks takes the lead in solutions for electrified goods transport in cities.
With better air quality and less noise in the city, it is possible to plan for housing and infrastructure more freely than at present. An electric truck without any exhaust emissions can be used in indoor terminals and environmental zones. Their low noise level creates opportunities for doing more work at night, thus reducing the burden on the roads during the day.
According to Volvo Trucks, there is considerable market interest in electric trucks, but many potential customers have questions about the opportunities generated by the new technology and how it can impact their operations.
Backing Volvo’s move into electric-truck logistics is the Volvo Group’s accumulated expertise in electrified transport solutions. For instance, sister company Volvo Buses has sold more than 4000 electrified buses since 2010. The technology used for propulsion and energy storage in the Volvo FL Electric has been thoroughly tried and tested from the outset, and is supported by Volvo Trucks’ comprehensive network for sales, service and parts supply.
Volvo Trucks believes that it is essential to take a holistic view of electrification of the transport sector to handle the ongoing challenges in areas such as electricity generation and batteries.
The first trucks in the Volvo FL Electric range are entering regular operation with customers in Gothenburg, the home of Volvo Trucks.
“In order to make the transition secure and smooth, we will offer holistic solutions based on each customer’s individual needs regarding driving cycles, load capacity, uptime, range and other parameters. Such a solution may encompass everything from route analysis and battery optimisation to servicing and financing. Volvo Trucks works closely with several suppliers of charging equipment. The aim as always is to offer customers high uptime and productivity. From experience we know how important it is that cities, energy suppliers and vehicle manufacturers cooperate in order for large-scale electrification to become a reality. With attractive incentives, agreed standards and a long-term strategy for urban planning and expansion of the charging infrastructure, the process can go much faster,,” says Jonas Odermalm, head of product strategy Volvo FL and Volvo FE at Volvo Trucks. 
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