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Volvo Trucks reveals technology in its new electric trucks
VOLVO TRUCKS REVEALS THE TECHNOLOGY IN ITS NEW HEAVY-DUTY ELECTRIC TRUCKS
Volvo Trucks is fully prepared to catalyze a rapid shift to more sustainable transportation, and a major upswing in electrification of construction vehicles and heavy road transport, with its recently launched Volvo FH, FM and FMX Electric vehicles.
Plant & Civil Engineer’s Phil Eaglestone recently travelled to the west coast of Sweden to get more familiar with the range. He managed to spend some time behind the wheel of several models, travelling around the seaport city of Gothenburg and was suitably impressed with both performance and handling. Breakthrough technology based on shared platforms makes them highly suitable for a wide range of hauling assignments, enabling many transport companies to embark on their own electrification journey more easily. With the sales start of three new all-electric trucks – the FH, FM and FMX – Volvo Trucks can now offer customers a total range of six electrified truck models. The production of the new trucks will initially start with tractors in the second half of 2022, followed by rigids in the beginning of 2023. The new heavy-duty trucks for the regional haul and construction segments have a gross combination weight (GCW) of up to 44 tons and come in two alternative chassis heights, with wheelbases from 3800 to 6700 mm and a variety of two, three or four axle configurations. “Built on the same highlysuccessful platform as their diesel or gas-powered counterparts, our new electric trucks provide great flexibility and the ability to meet a very wide variety of transport needs,” comments Jonas Odermalm, Vice President of Electromobility Product Management at Volvo Trucks. THREE MOTORS
Three electric motors are coupled with Volvo Trucks’ well-proven I-Shift gearbox which has a unique new gear shifting strategy optimized for electric operations.
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Together, the motors and I-Shift gearbox form a powerful electric drive unit that offers unprecedented, high-efficiency drivability – with a combined electric motor power of 490 kW (666 hp) and a gearbox torque of up to 28,000 Nm. “Because the truck always starts in the highest possible gear, energy efficiency and savings are achieved, thanks to minimized gear shifting. At the same time lower gears are of course available for steep roads or in starting situations that require additional torque and control,” Jonas Odermalm explains. For power take-off, PTO, capability there are three options to meet the customer’s needs: one electric (40 kW), one electromechanical (70 kW) and one gearbox mounted (150 kW). NEXT GENERATION BATTERIES
The high energy density traction batteries use the latest generation of lithiumion cell technology and will be assembled in a Volvo production plant. An electric truck with six battery packs has a nominal capacity of 540 kWh, allowing a range of up to 300 km*. FLEXIBLE AND FAST CHARGING
The trucks offer two ways of charging: AC charging up to 43 kW, which is ideal for overnight charging, or a much faster DC charging of up to 250 kW. This is very useful when driving two shifts or if you need to charge the vehicle during a lunch break, to add additional range. With a 250 kW DC-charger it is possible to charge up to 80 percent of the battery capacity in less than 90 minutes. SMOOTH TRANSITION
In addition to the electric trucks, Volvo Trucks also offers a complete ecosystem of service, maintenance and financing solutions that are made specifically for hauliers to support their easier and faster transition to electrified transport. “For hauliers, it’s important that the transition to electric trucks can be done gradually and in a smooth and easy way. They will have a mixed fleet with different drivelines for many years to come and they can continue to use systems like Dynafleet as well as the same service provider for all their Volvo trucks. The driveline may differ, but the rest is very similar, making the move to electric trucks both seamless and logical,” concludes Jonas Odermalm. VOLVO TRUCKS’ ELECTRIC VEHICLE OFFERING FOR EUROPE
• Volvo FH Electric, for regional and intercity transport. • Volvo FM Electric, a versatile truck for heavy local transports and regional distribution. • Volvo FMX Electric, for cleaner and quieter construction transport. • Volvo FE Electric, for local and city distribution, waste transport. • Volvo FL Electric, for local and city distribution.
volvotrucks.co.uk/fmx
Great customer service earns two winners the 2021 Epiroc Dealer of the Year Award
2021 was not a typical year, and to continue the theme, Epiroc has named not one but two of its dealers as their 2021 Dealer of the Year, Belfast based WAC McCandless and Coyle Equipment Services Ltd in North London.
Epiroc appointed WAC McCandless (Engineers) Ltd as the authorised dealer for its hydraulic attachment tools across the island of Ireland in 2019, having successfully grown Epiroc’s share of the market for hydraulic breakers and other excavator attachments in Ireland. WAC have a reputation for combining customer focus with product knowledge and expertise and hold stock across
Ciaran Carvill (left) and Michael Quinn (right) of WAC McCandless receive their award from Donal Cunningham of Epiroc.
the range of attachments which has resulted in them continuing to grow the sales of Epiroc equipment in Ireland. Coyle Equipment Services were appointed as the authorised dealer for Epiroc’s hydraulic attachment tools across north London, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and the West Midlands at the end of 2019. During 2021 they have more than doubled sales across their territory. Keith Lambourne, Epiroc’s Sales Manager for the UK & Ireland said: “Despite the areas they serve being very different in nature, CES and WAC share some very important values and approaches to their business such as their commitment to local stock holding and prompt service. “Through a combination of onsite repair services for all attachments, a well-equipped workshop, stock of working tools and spare parts, and teams of fully trained technicians both CES and WAC are well placed to deliver the service and aftermarket support that keeps their customers working and productive at all times. It was impossible to choose one winner from the two companies, so we decided both were worthy winners.”
Topcon Positioning Ireland goes electric
Topcon Positioning Ireland has made a huge step towards a more sustainable future by welcoming 12 new fully electric Volkswagen ID.4s.
The positioning equipment manufacturer makes the move as part of its continued commitment to sustainability, replacing 100% of its company car fleet with the zero-emission electric vehicles. Data from Volkswagen has shown that Topcon Positioning Ireland will save approximately 98 metric tonnes of CO2 by updating its old fleet of diesel vehicles to new electric ones, saving approximately the same weight of CO2 as more than 16 adult African Elephants Mark Fagan, business director at Topcon Positioning Ireland, said: “We’re delighted to have made the move to electric vehicles within the Ireland team. As a manufacturer, we are always asking our customers to embrace new technologies and innovations and, at Topcon, we’re leading by example with the decision to replace 100% of our company car fleet and embrace electric vehicles. “Our commitment to sustainability is an integral part of our business practice and, from manufacturing processes to the way we conduct business on a daily basis, we’re always striving to make a positive and meaningful change in terms of our impact on the environment. “Sustainability and environmental responsibility have been at the top of the agenda for a number of years, and the updates from COP26 last year placed even more of a focus on how the construction industry can make a real difference in striving towards net-zero. This decision to transition all of our car fleet to electric is important, and one we hope to see emulated across the industry as we come together to reduce the environmental impact of the sector as a whole.” The ID.4 vehicles are the first in Europe to receive a TUV Nord carbon-neutral certificate, meaning they were manufactured as carbon neutral vehicles, offset with initiatives such as recycling and planting trees. Volkswagen is the first manufacturer to achieve this certificate. Michael Neill, fleet sales manager at Volkswagen Financial Services Ireland Limited, said: “It’s brilliant to work with progressive companies like Topcon Positioning Ireland, sharing our passion for a more sustainable future. The all-electric ID.4 is produced and delivered with a carbonneutral balance – during production, we rely on energy efficiency and the use of green electricity, avoiding emissions wherever possible through every stage of the vehicles’ manufacture. That, coupled with the instant move away from fossil fuel powered vehicles, means Topcon is making instant CO2 savings thanks to this switch.” Topcon Positioning Ireland is committed to reducing CO2, both within its own organisation and across the wider industry. Further to investing in its own fleet of vehicles, the solutions and technologies that Topcon provides enables businesses to work more efficiently and productively, and helping to minimise machinery use, and therefore fuel consumption, and reduce material waste. To find out more about Topcon Positioning Ireland, visit www.Topconpositioning.com/ie
