Electric truck production becomes more environmentally friendly.
In September this year, Volvo Trucks became the first manufacturer in the world to start series production of heavy electric trucks. The battery-powered vehicles with a total weight of up to 44 tons are suitable for long-distance transport in addition to inner-city use, for example in the construction industry. This promises great potential for saving greenhouse gas emissions, as trucks account for around ten percent of global CO2 emissions.
However, the Swedish manufacturer is going one step further in parts of the new vehicles and using fossil-free steel in the production of the chassis. This is produced using sustainable electricity and hydrogen. As soon as this environmentally friendly raw material is available in sufficient quantities, it will also be used in the production of other vehicle parts, the company said in a press release. The first trucks are now being delivered, it adds.
Volvo Trucks’ customers include online retailer Amazon, which will have 20 all-electric trucks in operation by the end of the year (we reported). Volvo is also testing the use of fuel cells in trucks that can have a total weight of 65 tons or more and are also suitable for long distances.
Photo: © Volvo Truck Corporation. All rights reserved.
