36 | ELECTROMOBILITY
Volvo Trucks - Driving the electric powertrain transformation with the holistic shift towards emission-free road transport. “The Paris Agreement objectives have been met and Volvo Truck’s mission is to achieve 40% reduction in emissions per vehicle Volvo Trucks is further extending the Swedish green, clean image that’s so relevant and prevalent across this Nordic country. At Volvo Truck’s Demo Centre, located outside Gothenburg, a vast complex that accommodates Volvo Car and the new headquarters of sister electric car brand Polestar, a new fleet of heavy-duty trucks were warmed up and ready to drive around an urban environment. The recently launched Volvo FM & FMX Electric rigids and tractor-unit now join the medium-duty FL & FE Electric rigid and tractor-unit rigids launched in 2018. Volvo Trucks is powering ahead with its electric powertrain transformation with the immediate availability of six electric truck models within its range from medium to heavy duty. Apart from zero-emission for the customer, one of the big advantages is that the same modular cab and chassis platform is used for the electric trucks as per diesel and natural gas vehicles. Aftermarket elements such as Dynafleet telematics and maintenance are also similar to those provided by the dealer network for ICE powered vehicles. As mentioned, Volvo Trucks has developed new electric drivelines for its latest model lines - a medium-duty powertrain for the FL and FE and a
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heavy-duty specification for the FM, FMX and FH. Much of the technology has evolved from that introduced by Volvo Bus in 2015. Since the FL and FE Electrics were launched four years ago, over 1.5 million kilometres have been covered by customers, providing beneficial feedback to the Volvo engineers. Modifications to the I-Shift automated gearbox, fitted solely on diesel and gas powered trucks for almost 20 years, has allowed it to be suitable for electric vehicles also.
‘Large national and international transport buyers are showing strong interest in electric vehicles. This is being driven by their own ambitious climate goals, as well as consumers demand for decarbonisation and cleaner transports’ Lars Martensen, the Environmental & Innovation Director at Volvo Trucks, with over 21 years’ experience at the company, stated that we are living in very interesting times in the industry
by 2030 and by then 50% of Volvo Trucks sold will be electronically powered. The net zero target is 2040,” he added. Nonetheless Lars stressed that for certain applications such as heavy haulage, there will still be a need for a combustion engine, be it diesel, gas or hydrogen powered. As diesel power usage reduces, battery electric (BEV) and hydrogen (H2) will become more prominent. During the changeover period, Lars sees increased use of biodiesel, biogas and Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) biofuel, coming from carbon neutral sources. Certain applications such as refuse collection and urban deliveries will be best suited to BEVs with H2 for longer haulage, while diesel engines with carbon free fuel will continue to operate in the construction and heavy haulage sectors. He mentioned that an electric Volvo FH boasts a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to its diesel counterpart, while maintenance on an electric truck is 40% less. Sverker Asemyr, Commercial Project Implementation Manager began by saying that Volvo Trucks delivered the highest number of electric powered trucks last year, with Norway, Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands recording the biggest take-up, in what he called a ‘mature European market place’. Before any new electric truck is
