The first fully electric Volta truck will be unveiled to the public at an online event at the start of September. The Volta Zero is the world’s first purpose-built full-electric 16-tonne vehicle designed for inner-city freight deliveries. According to the company it will have a 160 to 200 kWh battery size and a range of 90 to 125 miles, with a top speed of 56 mph. It is estimated that it will eliminate around 180,000 tonnes of CO2 by 2025.
Sustainability is not the only key aspect of this vehicle as engineers also focused on enhancing safety. The Volta Zero was designed for electric from the outset, which facilitates a step-change in vehicle and pedestrian safety. As there is no internal combustion engine, the driver of a Volta Zero sits in a central position, with a much lower seat height than in a conventional truck. This combination, plus a glass house-style cab design, gives the driver a wide 220-degrees of visibility, minimising dangerous blind spots.
The Zero can be a gamechanger for the country to achieve net zero greenhouse emissions by 2050. If the Volta Zero is used by delivery companies, it could massively reduce the amount of CO2 produced by this specific sector of the economy.
Volta’s goal has been to offer a solid greener alternative for inner-city delivery vehicles, according to Chief Executive Officer of Volta Trucks, Rob Fowler.
“Reducing pollution, improving safety, offering fleet operators a credible alternative to the internal combustion engine, and helping them with the migration to electrification, were our main drivers at the outset,” he said. “The Volta Zero has over-delivered on all of these ambitions. I’m really looking forward to revealing the Volta Zero, and seeing the truck used in our first pilot trials soon.”
The vehicle is currently under production and it is expected to be launched later in 2020. According to the company it will be available to buy in the first quarter of 2021.