Volvo Trucks is the only global truck manufacturer with a full range of electric trucks in series production already today. The company’s target is that half of its global total truck sales will be electric by 2030 at the latest.
“Already producing the most complete electric line up in the global truck industry, we are now expanding our offering with the introduction of rigid versions of its extra heavy electric trucks: the Volvo FH, Volvo FM and Volvo FMX,” says Waldemar Christensen, MD of Volvo Trucks South Africa. “This makes it even easier for transport companies to make the move to electric vehicles in urban and regional areas.”
Thanks to multiple battery, cab and chassis options, the new extra heavy rigid trucks can be designed to carry electric superstructures for a wide range of specialised transport assignments, including goods distribution, refuse collection and construction work. Production of the new rigid variants will begin in the first quarter of 2023.
“With these new, electric trucks we are making it easier than ever for even more South African customers to go electric. Fleets can have these trucks custom-built for their specific operation, to cut emissions while getting the same functionality as the diesel truck they are using today,” explains Christensen. “Our customers are already ordering electric vehicles that will suit their specific business needs, with the first local deliveries expected during the first quarter of 2023.”
Local customers are planning their own charging networks, especially within their respective urban and regional operations.
Electric trucks - more attractive to both drivers and cities
Diesel trucks with heavy loads are a common sight in many cities. Now it’s possible to instead use electric trucks for these assignments. Besides producing zero exhaust emissions, electric trucks provide a better working environment for drivers as they are quiet – which also contributes to a more liveable city for residents.
Improved customer flexibility
The new rigid trucks have a battery capacity between 180-540 kWh. This, together with the number of batteries applied to a truck, provides for great flexibility and a wide range of potential operations.
“These trucks can handle all kinds of transports, from lighter to heavy loads. Customers can choose the exact battery capacity they need for their assignments, and by not carrying more batteries onboard than needed, the payload can increase. In short, we have the optimal and most cost-efficient electric transport solution, no matter what the task is,” says Christensen.
*Trucks with a single rigid chassis and built-on applications such as cranes, refuse compactors and cement mixers.
Volvo FH, FM and FMX electric rigids can be equipped as follows:
Released for sale in December 2022, global serial production start March 2023:
Driveline: 490 kW
Drive unit: 3 electric motors
Battery: 450-540 kWh, 5-6 batteries
Cab: Sleeper, High, X-High sleeper cab
Wheelbase: 4300-6700
Axle Configurations: 4x2R, 6x2R, 6x4R, 8x2R, and 8x4R
PTO: Mechanical, Gearbox and Electro-Mechanical
Released for sale in February, global serial production start May 2023:
Driveline: 330 kW
Drive unit: 2 electric motors
Battery: 360 kWh, 4 batteries
Cab: Day cab
Wheelbase: 3900-6700
Released for sale in June, global serial production start September 2023:
Battery: 180-270 kWh, 2-3 batteries
