Swedish electric truck manufacturer Volta Trucks is celebrating this week the start of series production of its all-electric Volta Zero 16 tonne truck.
Volta Trucks announced on Tuesday that it had officially begun series production of its 16-tonne all-electric Volta Zero at the company’s manufacturing partner, Steyr Automotive, in Austria.
It has been a long but steady journey for Volta, which has steadily secured investment and pre-orders to fund production, starting last year with its design verification and production validation prototypes.
The first series production of customer-specifications vehicles are now on the production line. The initial batch of vehicles will be used for the Volta Zero Driving Experience Programme which will allow fleet operator customers to test drive a Volta Zero for an extended period of time to see how the truck can be integrated into their operations.
Once they drive off the production line, the Volta Zero trucks will undergo a rigorous and extensive quality assurance and testing programme. The first trucks ordered by customers are expected to be delivered in the third quarter.
“The first full production Volta Zero going into the production line here at Steyr is the most substantial milestone the company has achieved to date,” said Kjell Walöen, Volta Trucks co-founder and chief manufacturing and logistics officer.
“In just 2.5 years, less than half the time existing truck manufacturers take, we have moved from launching a concept, through the engineering, development and quality phases and now the start of production of the final specification models that will be driven by customers, making our urban environments safer and more sustainable.
“The industry-leading pace to market set by Volta Trucks is a true testament to the highly skilled and driven professionals in the company and our partners, and the whole team is extremely proud of this milestone moment.”
The Volta Zero is billed as the “world’s first” purpose-built all-electric 16-tonne vehicle designed for urban logistics, designed in an effort to reduce the environmental impact of freight deliveries in city centres.
Capable of operating an all-electric range of between 150-200 kilometres, the driver sits in a central driving position thanks to the removal of the internal combustion engine and benefits from 220-degrees of visibility, helping to minimise blindspots and increase driver and pedestrian safety.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.