Volta Trucks Unwraps 7.5- & 12-Tonne Volta Zero
Stockholm-based electric vehicle startup Volta Trucks officially introduced 7.5- and 12-tonne (8.3 and 13.2-U.S.-ton) variations of its zero-emissions Volta Zero truck. The company had previously shared design concepts for these models, and as previewed, the new full-electric vehicles feature a similar appearance to the 16-t (17.2-U.S.-t) Volta Zero, including the 220-degree direct vision cab concept. The new, smaller Volta Zero trucks have shorter chassis and bodies and will provide greater convenience and manoeuvrability for urban delivery routes with frequent stops in congested areas.
“The forthcoming 7.5- and 12-t models complete the full-electric Volta Zero product family,” says Volta Trucks CEO Essa Al-Saleh. “They’ll sit alongside our 16-t vehicle, that’s currently engaged in extensive testing ahead of the first customer use later this year, and the 18-t vehicle that will start production in mid-2023. Our engineering teams are now scaling rapidly to be able to deliver all four vehicles at pace, as our customers ask of us.”
Rethinking Truck Design
The Volta Zero takes advantage of space gains made possible from replacing the internal combustion engine with a battery-electric system to dramatically change the truck’s cab. Volta’s ground-up design positions the driver at eye level with pedestrians and other road users, and the driver sits in a center position inside the glasshouse-style cab, allowing for optimum visibility. To further reduce blind spots, rearview cameras replace traditional side mirrors, and there’s a blind-spot warning system that detects objects near the truck’s sides. Drivers can also reference a 360-degree camera to get a birds-eye view of surroundings. Volta Trucks designed the cab to earn a five-star rating for Transport for London’s Direct Vision Standard (DVS).
Volta Range & Capacity
With this new announcement, Volta didn’t release detailed specifications for its new 7.5- and 12-t models, but it’s a safe bet the smaller vehicles will have lower payload capacities than the 16-t model. Designed specifically for city centre logistics, the 16-t Zero will offer 8,600 kilograms (18,960 pounds) of payload capacity and 37.7 cubic metres (1,331 cubic feet) of loadspace. The 16-t Volta Zero is currently undergoing engineering development, ahead of a customer evaluation period, and the company expects it to offer a rear axle capacity of 11 t (12 U.S. t) and a front axle rated at 5 t (5.5 U.S. t). The 16-t Volta Zero’s top speed will be 90 km/h (56 mph), and the onboard batteries offer a range of between 150 to 200 kilometres (93 to 125 miles).
Source: Volta Trucks