Volta Trucks testing prototype electric truck, announces Trucks as a Service business
Volta’s rolling testbed will evaluate thermal and mechanical performance, reliability and efficiency, ahead of the Volta Pilot Program rollout to select customers sometime in 2022.
It may not be much to look at, but this is a real-world testing prototype of Volta’s Zero commercial vehicle. Named Volta Minus One by the company’s development engineers, this test truck is the forerunner to the production specification Volta Zero 16-tonne truck.
The vehicle’s chassis frame, Proterra-supplied high-voltage battery, axles, motor and transmission are all close to final specification, and this unconventional-looking vehicle will allow Volta to test electro-mechanical components as well as thermal properties of the truck. The flatbed design allows the development team to easily add varying amounts of weight to evaluate carrying capacity.
Volta will be testing the Zero in conjunction with Horiba Mira, a specialised vehicle development and engineering company in the UK. Volta plans to continue testing the Zero across a range of locations and climates from the Arctic Circle to the Mediterranean, to ensure reliability, durability, and performance meet customer expectations prior to the pilot fleet rollout sometime in 2022.
Volta also published a video highlighting their proposed Truck as a Service (TaaS) business; the decarbonisation of transport fleets will likely require a higher level of initial investment from companies than comparable internal combustion engine (ICE) trucks, and Volta aims to capture the emerging electric commercial vehicle market by packaging all upfront vehicle and ongoing running costs into a single fee. The company projects lower total cost of ownership over ICE trucks for fleet managers, and aims to maximise uptime and operational efficiency of fleet vehicles by providing everything from training and EV charging infrastructure, to vehicle repayments, and maintenance.
Volta Trucks amps up its electrification strategy with new electric trucks and market expansion
UK electric truck startup Volta Trucks has outlined a Road-to-Zero Emissions strategy, crucial to following through with its promise to decarbonise the logistics industry. With many European cities implementing low or zero-emission zones, Volta Trucks intends to be ahead of the curve by rolling out four fully electric commercial vehicles by 2025.
The Volta Zero is targeting London as an initial launch market. Images: Volta Trucks
Four battery-electric Volta Zero vehicles to be offered from 7.5 to 19 tonnes.
Volta Trucks projects volumes to exceed 27,000 units per year by 2025.
Market expansion via Europe-first city-specific strategy, with launch markets, expanded from London and Paris to include wider European cities.
Vehicle manufacturing strategy to locate facilities close to core markets.
Volta Trucks lays out its Road-to-Zero Emissions strategy with a road map to 2025.
UK electric truck startup Volta Trucks has outlined a Road-to-Zero Emissions strategy, crucial to following through with its promise to decarbonise the logistics industry. With many European cities implementing low or zero-emission zones, Volta Trucks intends to be ahead of the curve by rolling out four fully electric commercial vehicles by 2025.
Announcing the company’s Road-to-Zero Emissions strategy, Chief Executive Officer of Volta Trucks, Essa Al-Saleh, said:
"We have seen huge success since launching the 16-tonne Volta Zero in September 2020. We have significant tail winds with zero emission large commercial vehicles, thanks to forthcoming legislation changes that are driving demand, as well as many customers with uncompromising sustainability agendas wanting to purchase the most environmentally focused vehicles for their fleets. This has created a very strong order book that encourages us to rapidly accelerate our plans.
Volta Trucks will introduce its brand with the 16-tonne Volta Zero, expected to commence production late in 2021, followed by 19-tonne and 12-tonne variants in 2023. According to Volta, the most affordable of the range, a 7.5-tonne model, is currently in the early design development phase and will enter production in late-2024.
Volta Trucks plans to revolutionise logistics fleets with the Zero.
Volta Trucks will adopt a network manufacturing strategy, planning a number of assembly facilities distributed across its key markets with a view to minimising unnecessary transportation and cost. Volta Trucks is currently engaged in the ‘expressions of interest’ phase of the repurposing of Nissan’s former factory in Barcelona. Ultimately, Volta Trucks is considering a number of additional manufacturing locations across Europe, North America and Asia, to be able to achieve a significant volume ramp up from launch.
Volta Trucks announced last year a large purchase of 1,000 full-electric large commercial vehicles by Petit Forestier, Europe’s largest refrigerated commercial rental fleet. The company holds over $260 million USD in orders as of January 2021.
The company also plans to revolutionise commercial logistics fleets, by offering a Truck as a Service ("TaaS") option for fleet managers to accelerate the electrification of their fleets, while paying a single, monthly fee for a vehicle inclusive of servicing, insurance and maintenance.
