Jonas Odermalm, VP Product Line Electromobility.

Volvo Trucks has begun selling its Volvo FL and Volvo FE electric trucks in selected markets within Europe, meeting the increasing demand for sustainable transport solutions in city environments.

With no exhaust emissions and lower noise levels, electric trucks offer huge potential in urban areas. The lowered noise levels make it possible to carry out deliveries and refuse collection at any time of the day or night, helping to improve logistics and reduce congestion during peak hours. With better air quality and lower noise levels, electric trucks also create new opportunities for city planning and road infrastructure. An electric truck can, for example, be used in indoor loading areas and environmental zones. 

“Global urbanisation requires urban logistics and truck transport with zero emissions and lowered noise levels with increasing urgency,” says Jonas Odermalm, VP Product Line Electromobility. “With the Volvo FL Electric and Volvo FE Electric we are able to meet both the strong environmental demands as well as the high commercial requirements of our customers.”

One challenge is to maximise the payload at the same time as optimising the driving range. 

“Volvo Trucks‘ solutions will be based on individual business needs that consider a number of parameters, such as driving cycles, load capacity and route analysis, to use the battery capacity in the most efficient way possible,” says Odermalm.

Volvo FL Electric and Volvo FE Electric were developed in close collaboration with selected customers operating in Gothenburg, Sweden. Feedback has been very positive, and the drivers involved in the collaboration are particularly impressed by the responsive driveline, seamless acceleration and how quiet the trucks are. 

“While customer feedback has been positive,” explains Odermalm, “we do recognise that charging infrastructure is still under development in most cities and we are working alongside both public and private partners to agree on a long-term strategy for the expansion of charging infrastructure. But it‘s clear that the pace of development of charging infrastructure needs to increase.”

Odermalm says electric vehicles, charged with electricity from renewable sources, are a step towards more sustainable city distribution.

“However, there will not be one singular energy source that addresses climate change and all other environmental issues. Different types of transport require different types of driveline solutions,” he says.

Facts about the Volvo FL Electric and Volvo FE Electric

• The Volvo FL Electric and Volvo FE Electric trucks have been developed for distribution, refuse handling and other urban transport applications.

• Sales will start in Sweden, Norway, Germany, Switzerland, France and the Netherlands.

• The start of serial production is planned for March 2020.

• The Volvo FL Electric has capacity for a GVW (gross vehicle weight) of 16 tonnes, while the GVW of the Volvo FE Electric is 27 tonnes.