Volvo Trucks is starting series production of electric versions of the company’s most important product lines, namely heavy-duty trucks: the Volvo FH, Volvo FM and Volvo FMX. These trucks have a total weight of 44 tons (gross combination weight GCW) and these three models account for about two-thirds of the company’s sales.
With these additions, Volvo Trucks has six electric truck models worldwide – the industry’s broadest range of electric trucks.
This is a milestone that proves we are leading the transformation of the industry. It is less than two years since we first demonstrated our heavy-duty electric trucks. Now we are increasing production and delivering these outstanding trucks to customers throughout Europe and later to customers in Asia, Australia and Latin America,” said Roger Alm, President of Volvo Trucks.
Series production of Volvo’s heaviest electric trucks will begin at the Tuve plant in Gothenburg, Sweden, followed by a plant in Ghent, Belgium, next year. Volvo produces electric trucks on the same production lines as conventional trucks, resulting in increased production flexibility and efficiency. The batteries are supplied by Volvo Trucks’ new battery assembly plant in Ghent.
Demand for electric trucks is growing rapidly in many markets, with one driver being the need for transport buyers to move to fossil-free transport in order to meet their sustainability goals. Volvo Trucks’ electric portfolio covers about 45 percent of all goods transported in Europe today. (According to Eurostat’s “Road freight by distance” (2018), 45% of goods transported by road in Europe travel less than 300 km.)
“We have sold around 1,000 heavy-duty electric trucks and over 2,600 electric trucks. We expect sales to increase significantly in the coming years. By 2030, at least 50 percent of the trucks we sell worldwide will be electric,” commented Roger Alm.
Volvo Trucks’ six electric truck model range covers a wide range of applications such as urban distribution and waste disposal, regional transport and construction work.
