Volta Trucks to debut all-electric Volta Zero at ACT Expo
Volta Trucks confirmed the US launch and first public display of the all-electric Volta Zero at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo next month.
The ACT Expo takes place near Los Angeles in Anaheim, California, between 1st and 4th May and is the world’s largest event dedicated to alternative-fuel commercial vehicles for vehicle manufacturers and commercial transport providers.
Volta Trucks will present a Class 7 Volta Zero design-verification prototype on booth 6895. Volta Trucks executives and product experts will be on hand to discuss the all-electric truck, as well as the company’s ‘Truck as a Service’ subscription model, and vehicle charging.
The introduction of Volta Trucks’ all-electric commercial vehicles into North America will be led in 2023 by the Class 6 and Class 7 Volta Zero (equivalent to the existing European 16-ton truck), which will be available with an ambient or refrigerated cargo box.
In late 2023, Volta Trucks will launch a US-based Driving Experience Program for fleet operators to evaluate a Pilot Fleet of Volta Zeros in real distribution environments to understand how the electric delivery trucks will integrate into their operations. A similar program is currently launching across six European countries. The Programme in the US will start on the west coast, ahead of a roll out of production vehicles expected in 2024.
According to the manufacturer, the Volta Zero is the first purpose-built all-electric medium-duty truck specifically designed for urban logistics. The ground-up design of the Volta Zero uses an innovative compact eAxle, comprising the electric motor, transmission, and axle all in one unit, supplied by Michigan-based Accelera by Cummins, and high-voltage batteries located within the chassis rails – their safest possible location – from California-based Proterra.
As a vehicle specifically designed for urban logistics, the Class 6 and Class 7 15-ton Volta Zero will offer a modular battery configuration to deliver a range of 95 – 125 miles – more than enough for downtown distribution routes.
Ahead of participation at ACT Expo, Chief Executive Officer of Volta Trucks, Essa Al-Saleh, said: “I’m delighted to be able to show the all-electric Volta Zero in the important US market, at ACT Expo in California. We’re building on the key learnings from our European launch, where we’ve developed at speed and scale, with deep understanding of our customers’ needs, to accelerate the transition to electric commercial vehicles and help decarbonise city centres.
“The US faces the same safety and sustainability issues we are addressing in Europe and is a significant market opportunity for us. This marks the start of our journey in the US, and we are excited to bring road-certified vehicles for US customers to evaluate later this year.”
