Automotive

Full range of Volvo electric heavy haulers to go on sale from 2021

Full range of Volvo electric heavy haulers to go on sale from 2021
The order books for the complete range of electric heavy duty Volvo Trucks opens in 2021, with volume production set to start the following year
The order books for the complete range of electric heavy duty Volvo Trucks opens in 2021, with volume production set to start the following year
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The order books for the complete range of electric heavy duty Volvo Trucks opens in 2021, with volume production set to start the following year
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The order books for the complete range of electric heavy duty Volvo Trucks opens in 2021, with volume production set to start the following year
The complete range of electric heavy duty trucks will roll out for distribution, refuse, regional transport and urban construction applications
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The complete range of electric heavy duty trucks will roll out for distribution, refuse, regional transport and urban construction applications
A per charge range of up to 300 km is available from vehicles in the complete electric heavy duty truck fleet
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A per charge range of up to 300 km is available from vehicles in the complete electric heavy duty truck fleet
Volvo Trucks and long-term customer Swerock are currently testing the electric FM and FMX vehicles in construction projects in and around Gothenburg, Sweden
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Volvo Trucks and long-term customer Swerock are currently testing the electric FM and FMX vehicles in construction projects in and around Gothenburg, Sweden
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Back in 2018, Volvo launched its first all-electric trucks. The FL Electric and FE Electric went on sale the following year, and now the company has announced that they will be joined by three more models to form a complete range of heavy-duty electric trucks.

Volvo Trucks is aiming to have its entire product range go fossil-free by 2040, selling battery-electric and fuel-cell vehicles instead (the company plans to have fuel-cell trucks go on sale by the second half of this decade). However, the company recognizes that transport companies will likely not make the change to greener vehicles overnight, and will probably have fleets using different fuels for a while yet. But Volvo is aiming to have electric vehicles ready to support the transition.

"To reduce the impact of transport on the climate, we need to make a swift transition from fossil fuels to alternatives such as electricity," said company president, Roger Alm. "But the conditions for making this shift, and consequently the pace of the transition, vary dramatically across different hauliers and markets, depending on many variables such as financial incentives, access to charging infrastructure and type of transport operations."

Three electric heavy-duty trucks are currently in testing, before going on sale in Europe from next year ahead of the start of volume production in 2022. Electric versions of the Volvo FH, FM and FMX will join the FL and FE to form a complete heavy-duty vehicle lineup running from 16 to 44 tonnes, with per charge ranges up to 300 km (186.4 mi) possible. This expansion will see Volvo's electric trucks rolling out for distribution, refuse, regional transport and urban construction applications.

Volvo Trucks and long-term customer Swerock are currently testing the electric FM and FMX vehicles in construction projects in and around Gothenburg, Sweden
Volvo Trucks and long-term customer Swerock are currently testing the electric FM and FMX vehicles in construction projects in and around Gothenburg, Sweden

In fact, just last month the company partnered with one of its customers to run a two-year pilot program to test the FM Electric and FMX Electric vehicles for use in the construction industry. The electric FM has been equipped with a mixer, while the e-FMX has been fitted with a hooklift. Both will be used in construction projects in and around Gothenburg.

"By rapidly increasing the number of heavy-duty electric trucks, we want to help our customers and transport buyers to achieve their ambitious sustainability goals," added Alm. "We're determined to continue driving our industry towards a sustainable future."

And even before the complete line of heavy-duty electric trucks finishes pre-sale testing, Volvo Trucks will make its VNR Electric regional transport truck available for purchase in the US from the beginning of December, 2020.

Source: Volvo Trucks

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7 comments
7 comments
guzmanchinky
I'm so happy that modern trucks don't belch smoke, but this is an even better future...
paul314
For a lot of heavy-vehicle applications, electric is just fine, because range and weight aren't a big deal.
IdealistPragmatist
Now to get a bare frame of one and build an RV on the back. Still not great until the range is up to 300 mi or so, but articles like this bring hope
ReservoirPup
A hybrid rubbish truck is long overdue. Who would mind if a pure electric comes along first?
BlueOak
“A hybrid rubbish truck is long overdue.”

Indeed. Quiet them down with a smooth, constant RPM engine and quiet drive motors. With the hydraulics required to operate the compactor cycle, also seems like a good match. Guessing perhaps garbage haulers are very price-sensitive, perhaps stalling hybrid solutions. It seems the repeated hydraulic compacting cycle might tax all electric storage, but perhaps.
ljaques
That's one sweet, low-slung little dump truck. I love it. Good luck with these, Volvo. It's time! Although I'm usually up at 5:30, I'd relish a nice, much quieter garbage truck. Their engine fan and brake noises are a continuous nuisance, and are louder than the barrel dump.
Miro
Good idea for extension of this 300km. range will be considering a charging lane on the highways.
Trolleybus type or even wireless in future.
Cancer generating diesel vehicles should pay the bill!