Local sales open for Volvo FL Electric, FE Electric

Sales have commenced in Australia for Volvo’s new medium-duty electric trucks, the Volvo FL Electric and Volvo FE Electric.

Available in GVMs ranging from 16 tonnes to 26 tonnes, the Volvo FL Electric has a 4x2 format with wheelbases from 3800mm to 5000mm, while the Volvo FE Electric can adopt either a 4x2 or 6x2 tag-axle format, in wheelbases from 3900mm to 6100mm.

A choice of either three or four battery packs is on offer for either model, giving capacities of 200kWh or 265kWh respectively.

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The lighter Volvo FL Electric is powered by a single motor with 135kW of continuous power and 425Nm of instant torque, put down to the ground via a two-speed automated transmission.

The Volvo FE Electric, meanwhile, ups the ante with a dual-motor setup, transmitting 225kW and 850Nm to the drive axle via the two-speed automated transmission.

Volvo Group Australia says the trucks have an operational range of up to 300km, depending on the battery package and usage.

Charge times for either model are said to vary between two hours (DC, via a Type 2 or CCS2 charge port) and nine hours (AC), while a factory-fitted PTO is available as an option. Both model sport an array of the latest active safety features.

Volvo says it's thrilled to be able to offer these all-electric models, following on from successful customers trials conducted here in 2021.

“When we delivered our first two electric trucks to customers for trials last year, we said this that this was just the start of our Australian electro-mobility journey,” says Paul Illmer, Vice President Emerging Technology, Volvo group Australia.

“That journey is now gathering pace as we offer a viable, safe and productive range of zero-emissions medium-duty trucks for the first time locally.

“Customer demand for electric transport options is fast becoming a tsunami, and with the arrival of our medium-duty electric range we are now well placed to ride that wave of demand.

“The connected eco-system around our electric offering will give customers peace of mind when it comes to making the leap to electric. And our proprietary Electric Range Simulation tool will ensure that the trucks we deliver are capable of carrying out the tasks they are being asked to carry out regardless of weight, weather or traffic conditions.

“Customer and driver feedback on our first two vehicles in service has been fantastic to date. And we look forward to seeing many more Volvo electric vehicles quietly plying our urban roads over the next 12 months as we expand our electric range even further.”

Volvo Group Australia says all of its electric trucks are sold with a Gold Service agreement, prospective customers able to choose between an outright vehicle purchase or an operating lease.