Sweden-based Volta Trucks has revealed the concept of the Volta Zero, a purpose-built full-electric 16-tonne commercial vehicle designed specifically for inner-city parcel and freight distribution. The first prototype Volta Zero is currently being built, and will be launched later in 2020, with the first pilot test vehicles due to start evaluation with customers in Q1-2021.
The Volta Zero offers a range of 150–200 km and uses 160–200 kWh of battery power, housing Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries instead of a Nickel Cobalt Manganese set up used in most passenger cars. The Lithium Iron Phosphate battery is highly modular, enabling Volta Trucks to adapt the vehicle to an operator’s specific requirements. The single electric motor, transmission, and axle of the Volta Zero are contained in a lightweight and compact e-Axle unit, which frees up space between the chassis rails to fit the batteries.
The dimensions of the Volta Zero are 9,460 mm (length) x 3,470mm (height) x 2,550mm (width), with a wheelbase of 4,800 mm. Due to its innovative electric powertrain, the Volta Zero has 90% less mechanical parts than an equivalent internal combustion engine vehicle. Its gross vehicle weight is 16,000 kg and offers a payload of 8,600 kg, with an overall volume of 37.7m3 designed to accommodate 16 Euro pallets. The top speed of the vehicle is limited to 90km/h.
The truck incorporates technologies such as active steering, road sign assist, reversing assistant with reversing camera, lane change assist and lane departure warning.
The Volta Zero is the first road vehicle to use a sustainably sourced natural Flax material and biodegradable resin in the construction of exterior body panels, with the cab’s dark body panels and many interior trims constructed from the natural material. At the end of their useful life, the Flax composite parts can be burnt within the standard waste management system and used for thermal energy recovery, unlike alternative composite materials that are usually sent to landfill.