Knowles purchases electric Vovlo

Knowles Transport is one of the first independent hauliers in the UK to invest in a battery-electric heavy truck. Based in March, Cambridgeshire, Knowles Transport has the ambition of becoming one of the first carbonneutral transport companies in Britain.

Managing director Alex Knowles explained that the Volvo was purchased after a three-week trial with a demonstrator. A 150kW supercharger was acquired along with the new truck, and has reduced charging time to two hours, enabling the truck to be double-shifted when required.

Dedicated to local collections and deliveries, where its 200-km range is adequate for the task, the truck is a 19-tonne FE Electric with a 23 ft curtainside body and electric tail-lift, running on air-suspension all round. The Volvo FE Electric features twin electric motors producing 225kW and 850Nm torque with a Volvo two-speed gearbox. The total energy storage capacity of the vehicle is 265kWh.

Alex Knowles said: “This is Knowles putting our money where our mouth is. There are plenty out there marketing their sustainability credentials without backing it up with investment, Knowles is not one of them. We are really excited about this step into the future we are making with our new Volvo FE Electric, All the drivers in our fleet were keen to take part in our three-week trial earlier this year. This new electric truck will be the first of many for Knowles as we push forward on our road to net zero.”