Volvo Trucks has started serial production of heavy battery electric trucks at its Ghent factory in Belgium.

Electric models are now built in four factories – three in Europe and one in the US.

Ghent is the largest with annual capacity for 45,000 units.

Three electric models are built in Ghent – the FH, the FM and the FMX Electric.

These trucks can operate at a total gross combination weight of 44 tonnes.

Battery packs are sourced from the recently opened adjacent factory.

The electric trucks are assembled on the same platform and production line as ICE models in what the company said was a “production set-up that gives the factory a high flexibility when it comes to handling different variants and demands”.

The company claimed to have taken orders, including letters of intent to buy, for 6,000 electric trucks for delivery to 42 countries on six continents.