Volta Trucks, a leading and disruptive full-electric commercial vehicle manufacturer and services provider, and Siemens Smart Infrastructure, the leader in electrification, have signed a letter of intent.
This outlines a cooperation to deliver comprehensive emobility charging infrastructure and software to Volta Trucks customers, to simplify, de-risk and accelerate their transition to commercial fleet electrification.
The partnership looks to bring together Volta Trucks’ unique solution to commercial vehicle fleet electrification and operational expertise through its Truck as a Service offer and Siemens’ global experience in electric vehicle support solutions.
This includes software control systems, facility electrification, charging infrastructure, energy management, building equipment and project finance. The partnership will seek to support Volta Trucks’ customers by providing infrastructure for full electrification aligned with their operational needs.
The technical infrastructure of the charging installations for Volta Trucks’ Truck as a Service customers would be overseen by Siemens to deliver a best-in-class solution.
This includes the hardware and software required to operate the charging and power distribution infrastructure for fleets of Volta Zeros. Volta Trucks’ customers could also achieve higher uptime with minimum expenditure, through Siemens’ performance management platform.
This optimisation approach is powered by advanced analytical and simulation models and considers factors such as fleet duty cycles, charging times, battery life, optimal utilisation and costs and asset management.
The Volta Zero is the world’s first purpose-built, full-electric 16-tonne commercial vehicle designed for urban distribution, and to deliver safer and more sustainable cities.
The truck has uniquely been designed from the ground-up as a full electric vehicle. Its zero-tailpipe emission electric drivetrain is the enabler to an innovative, safety-first approach to cabin design and providing unrivalled visibility for its driver. This enhances safety for other road users, making it the perfect vehicle to operate within city centre environments.
Thomas Kiessling, Siemens Smart Infrastructure CTO, said: “Through our partnership with Volta Trucks, we intend to co-create Transportation as a Service solutions, and deliver Volta Trucks’ customers higher uptime, a commitment to reliability through performance-based contracts, and reduced energy expenditure.
“As commercial fleets look to meet sustainability goals and deliver cost effective, robust infrastructure solutions, we are pleased to be able to partner with Volta Trucks.”
Volta Trucks recently confirmed the first Volta Zero ‘Production Verification’ electric vehicle (EV) had been completed and rolled off the line at the company’s contract manufacturing facility in Steyr, Austria.
Essa Al-Saleh, Chief Executive Officer of Volta Truck, said: “I am delighted that Volta Trucks will be working with Siemens to bring industry-leading charging infrastructure solutions for our Truck as a Service customers.
“To deliver the electrification of urban logistics at pace and scale, we need operationally efficient electrification infrastructure aligned to the exact requirement of each fleet.
“In Siemens, we have a world-class partner with the innovative technical solutions our customers will expect. Together, we are confident that our partnership with accelerate the migration to electrification.”
Siemens are a leading technology company helping the electric vehicle space with charging infrastructure. The company recently announced a partnership with the Volkswagen Group. Together they are investing $450 million Electrify America, the largest public ultra-fast electric vehicle charging network in North America.
