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 Zero electric truck to make its French debut on customer tour
The Volta Zero, the first purpose-built full-electric large commercial vehicle, will make its French debut at a series of high-profile customer and supplier events, starting in Paris on Monday 15 February and running for four weeks.
VOLTA ZERO MAKES ITS FRENCH DEBUT ahead of customer deliveries in late 2021
The Volta Zero, the first purpose-built full-electric large commercial vehicle, will make its French debut at a series of high-profile customer and supplier events, starting in Paris on Monday 15 February and running for four weeks.
Volta is a European start-up that launched a prototype version of its Zero full-electric 16-tonne in September 2020. The company expects European customer deliveries to begin by the end of 2021. Perfect for inner-city freight deliveries, the Zero has a pure-electric range of 150 - 200 kms (95 – 125 miles), the Volta Zero will eliminate an estimated 180,000 tonnes of CO2 by 2025 according to the company.
For the first time in France, the Volta Zero will be displayed with Swoopin, the global provider of sustainable transportation and urban logistics services, in south east Paris. In early January, Swoopin confirmed the use of the Volta Zero as part of their existing zero-emission fleet of electric vans, cars and eBikes, supporting their last-mile distribution hubs, and helping cities meet ambitious CO2 emissions targets. Over the four-week event, many potential and existing customers, fleet operators and suppliers will experience the Volta Zero, as well as introductions to local legislators and policymakers.
The Volta Zero in Swoopin livery, ready for its French debut. Image: Volta
Under current legislation, internal combustion engine commercial vehicles will be banned from operating in Paris from 2024 as all French cities of more than 150,000 residents adopt new Low Emissions Zones. As part of this legislation, the French government is offering incentives of up to €50,000 for the transition to zero emission commercial vehicles, making the acceleration of fleet electrification of paramount importance to French fleet operators.
Confirming the French debut, Chief Executive Officer of Volta Trucks, Rob Fowler, said; “With the imminent changes in legislation in French cities, it’s clear that the adoption of electric commercial vehicles needs to accelerate very quickly. Currently there is a real shortage of electrified products on offer to fleet operators, but with the Volta Zero, we can show our important French customers that we have a compelling solution that meets their needs.
“When our founders created Volta Trucks, they didn’t want to just offer a zero-emission vehicle, but to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles as a whole, especially in city centres where air quality is at its worst. In bringing the Volta Zero to France, we also hope to stimulate a wider awareness of full electric vehicles in the commercial sector and thus, help improve the air quality and environment for all French city inhabitants.”
