Volvo and Renault to sell electric trucks from 2019

The Volvo Group truck manufacturers have announced that they will commence the sale of electric trucks in Europe next year.

Both Volvo Trucks and Renault Trucks will bring electric trucks aimed at urban operations to the market in 2019 – with Volvo’s first units to debut with selected customers later this year, and Renault at work installing a dedicated assembly line for all-electric vehicles at its Blainville-sur-Orne plant in Normandy.

“Electromobility is fully in line with Volvo Trucks’ long-term commitment for sustainable urban development and zero emissions,” said Volvo Trucks president Claes Nilsson.

“By using electrically-powered and quieter trucks for distribution in urban areas, we meet several challenges simultaneously.

“Without noise and exhaust emissions, deliveries could take place outside peak periods, like for example in the late evening or at night. This would 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.

“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.”

The company cited a recent project studying the impact of night-time goods distribution in central Stockholm. Due to the avoidance of peak-time traffic, transport operations were reportedly carried out in a third of the usual time. Volvo added that night-time deliveries could contribute to many smaller vehicles being replaced by a few larger ones, further reducing emissions and traffic.

Jonas Odermalm, head of product strategy for medium duty vehicles at Volvo Trucks, added: “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.

“However, 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.”

Meanwhile, Renault said its electric range would be primarily for urban and inter-city use. The company has been investing in research and development around electromobility since 2009, including extensive field testing with customers.

It said that real-world tests of experimental full-electric 12-16 tonne trucks with operators such as Speed Distribution for Guerlain, Stef for Carrefour, Nestlé and the Delanchy Group had provided key information on conditions of use, battery behaviour and recharging facilities, and specific electric truck maintenance requirements.

“As we transition to a lower carbon economy, electric trucks are driving the future for urban operations,” said Nigel Butler, commercial director at Renault Trucks UK.

”We excitedly await production availability for our UK customers.”