Volta Zero, the Smaller 7.5-ton and 12-ton Variants Revealed
Volta Trucks revealed today, April 26, the smaller 7.5-ton (pictured above) and 12-ton variants of the Volta Zero, the electric distribution truck whose GVW is 16 ton in the original configuration. The latter is now undergoing extensive engineering development and testing ahead of customer evaluation during 2022. The Swedish-based manufacturer, which has recently inaugurated its very first service hub in Paris, had previously announced the truck variants, which will complete the initial offer for urban delivery, now ranging from 7.5 to 16 ton GVW, waiting for new additions by 2023.
Volta Zero: now developed in three variants
The 7.5- and 12-ton Volta Zeros have been designed by Volta Trucks’ partner, Astheimer Design in Warwick, UK alongside Volta Trucks’ own engineering teams. As anticipated by Business Development Manager Anthony Buron in this exclusive interview, the 7.5- and 12-ton vehicles will be visually identical at the front, with the 12-ton vehicle having a longer chassis and body, and second set of rear wheels and tyres, to accommodate the increased vehicle payload.
The driver of a Volta Zero has a wide 220-degrees of direct vision around the vehicle. The protection of vulnerable road users is also enhanced by the use of rear-view cameras that replace traditional mirrors, a 360-degree birds-eye camera showing the driver their complete surroundings, and blind-sport warning systems that detect objects down the sides of the vehicle.
The timeline for the new truck variants
The ground-up development of the 7.5- and 12-ton vehicles is being delivered at the same industry-leading pace as other vehicle developments. Having confirmed the start of the project in December 2021, a Pilot Fleet of vehicles is expected to be launched for customer trials in 2024, with series production due to commence in early 2025. The forthcoming 7.5- and 12-ton vehicles will make a significant contribution to the company’s objective to sell over 27,000 per year by 2025 and increasing in the years beyond.
«The forthcoming 7.5- and 12-tonne models complete the full-electric Volta Zero product family», commented Essa Al-Saleh, Chief Executive Officer of Volta Trucks. «They’ll sit alongside our 16-tonne vehicle, that’s currently engaged in extensive testing ahead of the first customer use later this year, and the 18-tonne vehicle that will start production in mid-2023. Our customers tell us that they really appreciate the safety and zero-emission attributes of the 16-tonne Volta Zero, but also need smaller 7.5- and 12-tonne vehicles in their operations. Our engineering teams are now scaling rapidly to be able to deliver all four vehicles at pace, as our customers ask of us».
