Volvo is getting ready to roll out its own electric truck, on the heels of competitor Daimler. The Volvo FL Electric goes on sale in Europe next year.
The truck makes 174 hp under normal conditions, with a maximum of 248 hp available. Volvo estimates its range at 186 miles, so this truck is for urban use. One application will be refuse collection, although the truck can also be used for other services. Volvo says one of major benefit of electric trucks is they’re quiet enough to operate at night, which can free up traffic on busy roads during the day.
Fast DC charging takes just 1 to 2 hours, Volvo says, while overnight AC charging requires up to 10 hours with a maximum battery capacity of 300 kilowatt-hours. The truck has a gross vehicle weight of 16 metric tons.
Volvo is building off the experience of its bus division, which has sold more than 4,000 electrified buses since 2010. But the race is on for automakers to introduce fully electric trucks of all types. Cummins and Tesla recently brought out electric semis, with the latter company promising a range of up to 500 miles on a single charge. Toyota is testing out fuel cell heavy-duty trucks.
