Jan 24, 2018 Volvo, Electromobility, VolvoTrucks, Logistics, HeavyDuty, Innovations, ElectricEngine, NoisePollution
Volvo Trucks has confirmed that from 2019 it will begin sales of electric trucks in the European market, with certain 'reference customers' receiving their operational units later this year.
“Electromobility is fully in line with Volvo Trucks’ long term commitment for sustainable urban development and zero emissions”, says Claes Nilsson, President of Volvo Trucks. But its not only lowered emissions that come from going the lectric route. “By using electrically powered and quieter trucks for goods transport in urban areas, we meet several challenges simultaneously. Without disturbing noise and exhaust gases, it will be possible to operate in more sensitive city centres. Transport may also take place throughout less busy periods, for example in late evening and at night. This will reduce the burden on the roads during daytime rush-hour traffic, allowing both the road network and vehicles to be utilised far more effectively than today.”
This was clearly evident in a project entitled Off Peak City Distribution, which was conducted by Stockholm City, Sweden and the KTH Royal Institute of Technology and which studied the effects of goods transport at night in central Stockholm. It found that the trucks avoided having to operate in rush-hour traffic, and thus transport assignments were carried out in one-third of the normal time.
A distribution truck has just over ten times the load capacity of a regular van. With well-developed logistics and more effective utilisation of roads in the evenings and at night, it is possible for many smaller vehicles to be replaced by fewer, but larger, vehicles. This contributes to lower emissions and less traffic. If a larger proportion of transport assignments could be carried out during hours when fewer people are on the road, it will also significantly reduce the risk of accidents.
“Our technology and know-how within electromobility are based on proven commercial solutions already in use on Volvo’s electric buses and solutions that were introduced in Volvo’s hybrid trucks as far back as 2010. The vehicles themselves are only one part of what is needed for large-scale electrification to succeed. Enabling long-term sustainable transport is a complex issue that requires a holistic and wide range of measures. We are working closely with customers, cities, suppliers of charging infrastructure, and other key stakeholders to create the necessary framework for electrical trucks,” says Jonas Odermalm, Head of Product Strategy for Medium Duty Vehicles at Volvo Trucks.
“We believe in full electrification for urban distribution as a first step. However, we are working with electrification for other transport applications. This is only the beginning”, concludes Nilsson.
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