Volta Trucks, a leading and disruptive full-electric commercial vehicle manufacturer and services provider, has revealed the final production-ready design of the Volta Zero. This is the world’s first purpose-built fully-electric 16-tonne commercial vehicle specifically created for inner-city logistics.
The unveiling of the Volta Zero’s final design, which was created by partner Astheimer Design located in Warwick in the UK, bears a close visual relationship to the original demonstrator vehicle. Volta also worked with Oxfordshire based Prodrive to develop the electric powertrain driving the Volta Zero.
The final design has the same modern and innovative appearance and packaging as the launch model. One great feature, the revolutionary cab and premium working environment for drivers with its low central seating position to improve visibility and safety, will be maintained through to production.
These same design principles will also be maintained in the forthcoming 7.5-tonne, 12-tonne and 18-tonne variants. The latter is now being repositioned from its previous 19 tonne gross weight.
All body panels have been redesigned and updated for the final design. The most notable but minor visual changes include the removal of the horizontal frontal light bar and the replacement of the diagonal interface between the cab and the cargo box with a vertical line to improve vehicle construction efficiency.
Internally, only the colour and material palette have changed. The light colour leather found on the demonstrator has been replaced with a more practical charcoal colour and the teak wood flooring swapped for hard-wearing rubber matting.
Production of the first 25 design verification prototype vehicles is due to start shortly. These prototypes will embark on a comprehensive and rigorous testing regime that starts in early 2022.
Testing will initially be undertaken by Volta Trucks engineers and followed by customers. This is to ensure that the first production-specification vehicles, which are due to start manufacturing by the end of next year, deliver the highest possible quality levels.
Ian Collins, Volta Trucks chief product officer, said; “When the Volta Zero was revealed in September 2020, there were some who thought that its revolutionary, world-first design and packaging were just for show and could never be built for production.
“We knew it wouldn’t be easy but our constant motivation was the opportunity that a completely reimagined truck had to improve both the safety of drivers and those vulnerable road users around large trucks operating in city centres.
“Working in close collaboration with Astheimer’s design team and our engineers we have delivered a modern, progressive, and elegant design – exactly as an electric vehicle conceived from the ground up should be.
“The production-ready Volta Zero delivers a paradigm shift in commercial vehicle safety and sustainability, and I look forward to seeing the vehicles on the road early next year as our rigorous testing programme starts.”
