Today, Volvo announced an electric truck that’s meant for commercial use, called the Volvo FL electric. The truck is specifically designed for use in the city, where it’s used for distribution and waste management in urban areas.
The Volvo FL electric weighs in at about 16 tones (17.64 tons) and offers different battery options totaling 100 to 300 kWh, depending on the type and size of the job it’s performing. The range for the truck is up to 300km (186 miles).
Where will these trucks make their debut? In Europe. The sales and production of the truck will start next year. The truck requires a charging of 10 hours on AC battery (1-2 hours on fast DC charging). This seems to fit the truck well seeing as it will primarily operate during the day. It provides 175 continuous horsepower, with 248 peak power.
The automaker’s aim is to seamlessly integrated electric vehicle technology into existing urban areas. Since 2010, Volvo Buses have been operating and have sold over 4,000 electric buses. The Volvo FL Electric has also adopted similar technology to bring to the market.
“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,” said Jonas Odermalm, the head of product strategy for Volvo FL and Volfo FE. “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.”
