Volvo begins series production of heavy electric trucks

Volvo Trucks is starting series production of heavy electric, 44 tonne trucks at its Tuve factory in Gothenburg, Sweden. (Photo: Volvo Trucks)

Volvo Trucks is now starting series production of the electric versions of the company’s most important product range, its heavy-duty trucks, the Volvo FH, Volvo FM, and Volvo FMX. These trucks can operate at a total weight of 44 tonnes gross combined weight and the three models represent around two thirds of the company’s sales.

With these new additions, Volvo Trucks has six electric truck models in series production globally – what the company called the broadest electric truck lineup in the industry.

“This is a milestone and proves that we are leading the transformation of the industry,” said Roger Alm, president of Volvo Trucks. “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.”

Series production of Volvo’s heaviest electric trucks will start in the Tuve factory in Gothenburg, Sweden, and next year the factory in Ghent, Belgium will follow. Volvo produces the electric trucks on the same line as its conventional trucks, which gives high production flexibility and efficiency gains. The batteries are supplied by Volvo Trucks’ new battery assembly plant in Ghent.

Volvo said the demand for electric trucks is rapidly increasing in many markets, with one driving force being the need for transport buyers to shift to fossil-free transports in order to meet their sustainability goals. Volvo Trucks’ electric portfolio could cover around 45% of all goods transported in Europe today, as according to Eurostat statistics, 45% of all goods transported on road in Europe travel a distance of less than 300 km.

“We have sold around 1000 units of our heavy electric trucks and more than 2600 of our electric trucks in total,” said Alm. “We expect volumes to increase significantly in the next few years. By 2030, at least 50% of the trucks we sell globally should be electric.”

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.