Volta commercial electric trucks are not designed to allow internal combustion
Sweden-based Volta Trucks has announced the latest in a series of electric commercial trucks designed without an internal combustion engine.
The new 7.5-ton and 12-ton (approximately 16,500-pound and 26,500-pound) Volta Zero models join the larger 16-ton (35,000-pound) version which is currently undergoing “extensive technical development and testing” prior to evaluation. customers in 2022, Volta said in a press release.
According to Volta, the 7.5-ton and 12-ton models will enter the pilot fleet in 2024 and full production in 2025, according to Volta. As the name suggests, the 12-ton model has a heavier (metric) tonnage rating. It has a longer frame and body and a second set of rear wheels to accommodate that extra payload.
Volta Zero 7.5 ton electric truck
Since the Volta does not have an internal combustion engine, it can position the driver much lower than conventional trucks. Drivers now sit at roughly the same height as normal pedestrians and car drivers, it claims.
Volta notes that the packing freedom of an EV also allows for a 220-degree field of vision around the vehicle and a centered seating position, meaning drivers can always walk out onto the sidewalk.
Volta aims to sell more than 27,000 vehicles a year by 2025. It also introduces a “truck as a service” model as an alternative to traditional ownership or rental. For a single monthly fee, fleet operators get access to charging vehicles and infrastructure, including maintenance, insurance, and driver training.
Volta Zero electric truck 7.5 tons (front) and 16 tons
Volta focuses on Europe but have been using US suppliers for some key ingredients. In 2021, Volta names Proterra as a battery supplier and Meritor as a supplier for electronic shaft units.
Volta isn’t the only company making futuristic new trucks for the electric age. The arrival is also aimed at the rear internal combustion design aesthetic. The startup has revealed a delivery valve for UPS in 2020 and announced plans for a Electric bus factory in South Carolina at the end of the year.
The Tesla Semi Also an EV-only design, but it is a much larger truck than what Volta and Arrival have suggested. Walmart, which operates a huge fleet of pickup trucks, has revealed WAVE concept in 2014 to introduce design features that focused on efficiency, but kept the internal combustion engine intact.
