Volvo Trucks has announced the start of FL and FE electric truck sales in selected markets within Europe.
"Global urbanisation requires urban logistics and truck transport with zero emissions and less noise with increasing urgency," said Volvo Trucks VP Product Line Electromobility, Jonas Odermalm.
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"With the Volvo FL Electric and Volvo FE Electric we are able to meet both the strong environmental demands as well as the high commercial requirements of our customers."
One challenge is to maximise payload at the same time as optimising driving range.
"Volvo Trucks' solutions will be based on individual business needs that consider a number of parameters, such as driving cycles, load capacity and route analysis, to use the battery capacity in the most efficient way possible," added Odermalm.
Volvo FL Electric and Volvo FE Electric were developed in collaboration with customers operating in Gothenburg, Sweden.
"We do recognise charging infrastructure is still under development in most cities and we are working alongside both public and private partners to agree on a long-term strategy for the expansion of charging infrastructure," noted Odermalm. "But it's clear the pace of development of charging infrastructure needs to increase."
"Electric vehicles, charged with electricity from renewable sources are a powerful step towards more sustainable city distribution. However, there will not be one singular energy source that addresses climate change and all other environmental issues. Different types of transport require different types of driveline solutions."
The Volvo FL Electric and Volvo FE Electric trucks have been developed for distribution, refuse handling and other urban transport applications. Sales will start in Sweden, Norway, Germany, Switzerland, France and the Netherlands.
The start of serial production is planned for March, 2020.
The Volvo FL Electric has capacity for a GVW (gross vehicle weight) of 16 tonnes, while the GVW of the Volvo FE Electric is 27 tonnes.
