Volvo to start selling electric trucks in 2019

Volvo wants to see fewer trucks in urban rush-hour traffic

Volvo will start selling electric trucks in Europe in 2019, the company has said in a press release this week. The statement went on to say that the first units will be put into operation with selected customers this year.

Volvo says that electric trucks drastically reduce noise and exhaust emissions and open up new ways to manage logistics.

To assist with urban population booms, Volvo says that with electric trucks, more transport jobs could be carried out at night and fewer trucks would be competing for road space during rush-hour. “Electromobility is fully in line with Volvo Trucks' long term commitment for sustainable urban development and zero emissions,” said Claes Nilsson, President Volvo Trucks (pictured).

"By using electrically powered and quieter trucks for goods transport in urban areas, we meet several challenges simultaneously. Without disturbing noise and exhaust gases, it will be possible to operate in more sensitive city centres.

“Transport may also take place throughout less busy periods, for example in late evening and at night. This will reduce the burden on the roads during daytime rush-hour traffic, allowing both the road network and vehicles to be utilised far more effectively than today,” added Nilsson.

A recent project, Off Peak City Distribution, conducted by Stockholm City, Sweden and KTH Royal Institute of Technology studied the effects of goods transport at night in central Stockholm. Since the trucks avoided having to operate in rush-hour traffic, transport jobs were carried out in one-third of the normal time.

Volvo maintains that with well-developed logistics and more effective utilisation of roads in the evenings and at night, it is also possible for many smaller vehicles to be replaced by fewer but larger vehicles, thus further contributing to lower emissions and less traffic. A distribution truck has just over ten times the load capacity of a regular van. If a larger proportion of transport assignments could be carried out during hours when fewer people are on the road, this will also significantly reduce the risk of accidents.

"Our technology and know-how within electromobility is based on proven commercial solutions already in use on Volvo's electric buses, and solutions that were introduced in Volvo's hybrid trucks as far back as 2010.

“The vehicles themselves are only one part of what is needed for large-scale electrification to succeed. Enabling long term sustainable transport is a complex issue that requires a holistic and wide range of measures. We are working closely with customers, cities, suppliers of charging infrastructure and other key stakeholders to create the necessary framework for electric trucks,” says Jonas Odermalm, Head of product strategy medium duty vehicles at Volvo Trucks.

"We believe in full electrification for urban distribution as a first step. However we are working with electrification for other transport applications. This is only the beginning,” concluded Nilsson.

Volvo to start selling electric trucks in 2019

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