Volvo FL Electric beats the heat

The new Volvo FL Electric, a battery-electric 4x2 truck due to go on sale in Australia this year, has just completed a rigorous testing program in Queensland designed to see how the EV copes with local conditions. 

More specifically, the program examined how fast charging and extreme heat can affect the model’s range, battery charging and vehicle performance. 

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Feel the heat 

The Volvo FL Electric features second-generation battery packs delivering a capacity of 265kWh, and was subjected to a series of on-road tests in 35-degree heat or more while loaded to a gross weight of 15,000kg. 

Volvo says the truck covered over 730 kilometres across a broad range of traffic and road conditions, including a climb up the Toowoomba bypass – a gradient of six per cent. 

While the truck’s second-gen battery packs are predicted to have an energy consumption of 0.9kWh per kilometre, Volvo says local testing has revealed the consumption to be lower, at 0.73kWh per kilometre, while truck’s regenerative braking was sufficient to add five per cent of battery charge during the downhill leg of the Toowoomba bypass. 

“Temperature is the enemy of battery performance in any vehicle,” said VGA’s Vice President Technology Business Development, Paul Illmer. 

“For our industry to go electric our customers need to know we have tried and tested our technology in adverse conditions rather than report contrived figures derived from testing in a controlled environment. 

“And I’m extremely happy to see the results of this testing, which proves the FL Electric is a viable option for a range of urban distribution roles while being able to tolerate Australia’s harsh climate.” 

Charging ahead 

The Volvo FL Electric has a GVM of 16 tonnes and generates 130kW of continuous power, delivered to its rear wheels via a two-speed automated transmission. Volvo Group Australia says the model has a range of up to 300 kilometres between charges, depending on the application, while charging times can span from just two hours (150kWh DC) to 11 hours (22kWh AC). 

The recent test program saw the FL Electric receive a 40-minute fast charge from 40 per cent battery capacity, to help engineers understand how ‘opportunity charging’ can be utilised in a typical transport operation. 

“Our electric trucks are more than just a vehicle, they are a part of an electromobility eco-system,” said Illmer. 

“Before a customer signs up for our electric offering, we conduct a feasibility study using our bespoke range estimation tool to plot out exactly how this vehicle can be integrated into an existing transport task. 

“Once in service we can help the customer monitor vehicle performance through our Volvo Connect telematics portal. These proprietary tools give us a 360-degree view of our customers’ needs and the operation at hand. 

“This year marks the start of commercial sales [of the Volvo FL Electric] here in Australia and I look forward to seeing an electric truck with real-world usability hit the local market.”