Volvo Trucks Australia has announced the arrival of the first Volvo FL Electric on Australian shores. This first unit will be fitted with an 8-pallet body and tailgate lift and is destined for trials and evaluation with Linfox, undertaking metropolitan deliveries within BevChain, its leading beverage logistics business, starting in April 2021.
“Momentum is building globally to create safe and clean cities and the arrival of this truck in Australia marks the first step on that journey for Volvo Trucks Australia,” says vice president, Volvo Trucks Australia Tony O‘Connell.
In late 2020 Volvo Trucks announced its intention for all Volvo Trucks to be fossil fuel free by 2040. It also announced that pre-sales for the European market of a complete range of electric heavy-duty truck models would begin in 2021 with production to start in 2022.
The 4×2 Volvo FL Electric is powered by 600 Volt, 200 kWh battery packs which power a 200kW/425Nm motor. Power gets to the drive wheels via a 2-speed I-Shift automated transmission.
“Adopting a greener fleet is an ongoing part of our commitment to act sustainably, as we strive for zero net environmental emissions and play our part to mitigate climate change. As our nations‘ freight demand grows, it is vital we meet that need safely, efficiently and with reduced environmental impact,” says Linfox executive chairman, Peter Fox.
Linfox is a member of the Electric Vehicle Council, the national body representing the electric vehicle industry in Australia.
“This is a very exciting time to be a part of Volvo Trucks Australia. The path to a cleaner, safer and ultimately more enjoyable cityscape is being paved as we speak. I look forward to seeing this truck plying the streets of an Australian capital city in the very near future,” says O‘Connell.
The road map to a fossil free future for Volvo Trucks also includes the development of Hydrogen Fuel Cell technology for long-haul applications to complement the more urban centric electric drivelines and the gradual phasing out of the traditional diesel engine.
