Volta Trucks chooses innovative electric motor for Zero 16-ton lorry

Volta Trucks has confirmed the appointment of Meritor as the strategic full electric drivetrain component supplier for the Volta Zero.

This major purchasing milestone will support the delivery of Volta Zero vehicles for customer trials during 2021, and the start of series production around 12 months afterwards.

The leading full-electric commercial vehicle manufacturer as we reported is in the process of manufacturing the Zero, which is a 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.

Thanks to this agreement, it will be the first full-electric large commercial vehicle in Europe to use an innovative eAxle to drive the rear wheels.

Meritor will supply the single unit, containing the electric motor, transmission, and rear axle of the Volta Zero, with its Blue HorizionTM 14XeTM integrated ePowertrain. This is lighter and more efficient than a conventional electric motor and axle set-up, delivering an increased range as a result. It also provides packaging benefits by freeing up space between the chassis rails to provide the safest possible location for the vehicle’s battery.

Chief Executive Officer of Volta Trucks, Rob Fowler has explained that this partnership is another important step towards its ambitious future plans.

“Confirmation of the strategic supplier for the electric drivetrain is another major milestone on our journey towards the production of the Volta Zero,” he said. “As a pioneer and innovator in this unserved area of the electric vehicle marketplace, it is imperative for us to select experienced, world-class suppliers who share our ambition and values.”

We have also reported that Volta Trucks has also recently announced a successful conclusion of its funding round with $20 million of new investment. The company is step by step becoming an important player on the market as it has also partnered up with Petit Forestier Group to make a refrigerated all-electric commercial vehicle available for rental from 2022.