Operating independently from the passenger car manufacturer of the same name, Volvo offers a wide range of truck tractors that run purely on electricity, and will soon be complemented by representatives of the popular FH series in electric version. Such a car is capable of traveling up to 600 km without the need to recharge.
Image source: Volvo Trucks
Of course, in this indicator, the Volvo FH is inferior to the Tesla Semi, which claims to be able to travel up to 800 km on a single charge, but Volvo’s new electric product surpasses its predecessors in terms of range. In particular, the FL series of trucks offered a range of no more than 300 km on a single charge, while the more capable FE was limited to a range of 200 km. Volvo engineers managed to increase the efficiency of the power plant by placing the traction motors and gearbox in a single housing.
In addition, such a technical solution frees up more space for the traction battery, and this is important given the cabover cab layout. American rules for operating long-haul trucks mean that one driver can drive no more than 11 hours in a row per day, and then must rest for at least 10 hours. During this time, the truck’s traction battery can be fully charged not at the fastest station. Volvo FE and FL trucks also included the possibility of high-speed charging from a DC terminal in a couple of hours. The characteristics of the Volvo FH electric tractors have not yet been disclosed, but they will go on sale in the second half of next year.