Volta, who are a Scandinavian start-up electric commercial vehicle manufacturer, officially launched their new Zero electric truck to the world on 3 September. Their new 16-tonne truck is the world’s first purpose-built fully electric vehicle designed for inner city freight delivery use. With zero emissions it’s ideal for purpose and will help cities to hit government targets of reducing pollution.
The new slick looking Zero electric truck, which was conceived just three years ago, has been designed from the ground up. It features an operating range of 95-125 miles (150-200 km) and the instant torque of an electric battery set-up makes it perfect for the constant starting and stopping of delivery vehicles in city centre situations. Volta claim the Zero will help will eliminate an estimated 180,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2025.
Safety has also been key feature of the new Zero and Volta aim to be the safest large commercial vehicle manufacturer. Without the need for a traditional combustion engine the operator sits in a central driving position with a far lower seat height than a traditional truck. This combined with a glass house-style cab design it gives the driver a 220-degree field of vision helping to minimise blind spots.
Volta trucks have already teamed up with delivery giants DPD to distribute parcels around London in their new electric trucks. The pilot scheme will be rolled out in early 2021 and take place in the capital’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), and supports DPD’s Smart Urban Delivery Strategy. Volta are also taking part in similar trials with their Zero trucks in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.
Chief Executive Officer of Volta Trucks, Rob Fowler, said: “Reducing pollution, improving safety, offering fleet operators a credible alternative to the internal combustion engine, and helping them with the migration to electrification, were our main drivers at the outset. The Volta Zero has over-delivered on all of these ambitions. We realised the opportunity that delivering a large zero-emission inner-city delivery vehicle could bring to the logistics industry, but also to the inhabitants of the city that it serves. “
