The first order has been confirmed for the new Volta Zero, the first purpose-built full-electric large commercial vehicle, which will start production in 2022. Drinks Cubed, the London-based sustainable drinks brand, has signed a multi-million-pound deal for the supply of a fleet of Volta Zero vehicles into its distribution operations between 2022 and 2023.
As we reported, the 16-tonne vehicle is 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.
For Drinks Cubed, ordering all-electric trucks was the only logical step and Volta was the partner that the company was looking for, co-founder of Drinks Cubed, Sukhi Sindhu explained:
“As well as looking at our carbon footprint when it came to our packaging, we also needed to address our distribution too. That is where the Volta Zero will play its part,” he said. “Volta Trucks has taken a holistic approach to sustainability, looking further than just tailpipe emissions and into sustainable methods of manufacturing and components. With Volta Trucks, we have found a brand with shared sustainability values.”
Another key aspect about this vehicle is the enhanced safety as it was designed for electric from the outset, which facilitates a step-change in vehicle and pedestrian safety. Thanks to the removal of the internal combustion engine, the operator of a Volta Zero sits in a central driving position, with a much lower seat height than 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.
This first order will also be important for learning what customers truly need and making the adjustments required before the Volta Zero goes fully into production, according to Chief Executive Officer of Volta Trucks, Rob Fowler:
“They’ll also help us learn more about customer requirements so we can adapt and modify the final specification of customer vehicles that start production in 2022 so they are perfectly suited to our varying customer’s requirements,” he said.