Volvo Trucks has revealed that series production will begin on electric versions of some of its biggest sellers in the heavy-duty truck space.
The Volvo FH, Volvo FM and Volvo FMX represent around two thirds of the company’s sales – and they’ll all soon be available in electric versions. Though we might have to wait a little while longer before they hit Australian roads.
Volvo Trucks will have a total of six electric truck models in series production globally, which is the broadest electric truck line up in the industry to date.
“This is a milestone and proves that we are leading the transformation of the industry. It’s less than two years ago since we showcased our heavy electric trucks for the very first time. Now we are ramping up volumes and will deliver these great trucks to customers all over Europe, and later on also to customers in Asia, Australia and Latin America,” said Roger Alm, president Volvo Trucks.
Series production of Volvo’s heaviest electric trucks will start at its Tuve factory in Gothenburg, Sweden; before extending to the factory in Ghent, Belgium next year.
Volvo Trucks says it produces the electric trucks on the same line as its conventional trucks, to provide high production flexibility and efficiency gains. Batteries are supplied by Volvo Trucks’ new battery assembly plant in Ghent.
With demand for electric trucks rapidly increasing in many markets, Volvo Trucks believes its electric portfolio could cover around 45 per cent of all goods transported in Europe today.
“We have sold around 1000 units of our heavy electric trucks and more than 2600 of our electric trucks in total. We expect volumes to increase significantly in the next few years. By 2030, at least 50 per cent of the trucks we sell globally should be electric,” Alm added.
Volvo Trucks’ electric line-up of six truck models covers a wide range of applications such as city distribution and refuse handling, regional transport and construction work.