Volvo announces longer-range electric trucks

Volvo Trucks HQ in Sweden has said it is rolling out more efficient batteries in its medium-duty trucks which will offer up to 450km range from one charge.

Thanks to more powerful batteries in Volvo’s medium-duty FL and FE Electric, it is now possible to speed up the transition to quieter and cleaner city transport. The new batteries offer 42 per cent extra energy capacity.

While the trucks won't get you from Sydney to Melbourne or Brisbane, it means that the trucks can handle most types of routes and assignments in urban areas, as well as providing power for energy-consuming jobs like refuse handling or construction.

The extra energy can also be used for long shifts without requiring a recharge. As a result of the improved batteries, the Volvo FL Electric now has a range of up to 450km, while Volvo FE Electric has a range of up to 300km.

“With a range of up to 450km, our electric trucks are ready to replace our customers’ entire fleet of diesel city trucks. Volvo FL and FE Electric produce minimal emissions and noise which benefits the climate, the driver and everyone that lives and moves about in the city,” says Jessica Sandström, SVP Product Management at Volvo Trucks.

The higher capacity means that fewer batteries are needed for the same power available today. If customers’ assignments require shorter ranges, they can therefore increase their payload by using fewer batteries – with a payload increase of 500kg for every battery not carried.

“For some customers it’s more important to get extra payload, rather than maximising the range. We work closely with our customers in choosing the best solution,” says Sandström.

Volvo says that by replacing a Volvo FL or Volvo FE diesel truck with an electric version using green electricity on a typical route, approximately 30 tons of CO2 could be saved every year.

Since Volvo Trucks started producing fully electric trucks in 2019, the company has sold nearly 5000 electric trucks in 40 countries around the world. The company’s target is that half of its global total truck sales will be electric by 2030.

Volvo FL Electric:
Driveline: up to 180kW
Drive unit: Single electric motor
Battery: 280-565kWh, three to six batteries
Range: Up to 450km (distribution) without electro-mechanical PTO, with six batteries.
Up to 280km (distribution) without electro-mechanical PTO, with three batteries.

Volvo FE Electric:
Driveline: up to 225kW
Drive unit: Two electric motors
Battery: 280-375kWh, three to four batteries
Range: Up to 300km (distribution) without electro-mechanical PTO, with four batteries.
Up to 200km (refuse handling) with electro-mechanical PTO, with four batteries.