First drive of Volvo FH heavy-duty electric truck

Volvo Trucks currently offers six electric truck models, and it recently began series production of a trio of heavy-duty e-trucks: the long-haul FH; the medium-haul FM; and the FMX for construction applications.

Reporters from the Australian EV media outlet The Driven recently traveled to Volvo HQ in Gothenburg, Sweden to take the heavy-duty Volvo FH for a test drive.

The FH is a fully electric 19-meter, 38-ton 18-wheeler with a gross load of up 44 tons. It has a 540 kWh battery pack, which delivers a range of around 300 km. Volvo notes that this is sufficient for about 45% of freight transport routes in Europe.

The heavy-duty trucks are produced at Volvo’s facility in Tuve, Sweden, and each takes about six hours to be assembled from a frame.

The Driven’s correspondents drove the FH on a private test track, and noted the reduced noise level (50 percent quieter than a legacy vehicle from outside, one third quieter in the driver’s cabin) and of course, the instant torque and high maneuverability, particularly at low speed.

The Aussies don’t claim to be truck experts, but they were accompanied by three “experienced trucking journalists” who were all equally impressed. A representative of an Oslo-based construction company said he already has seven Volvo electric trucks, and his drivers love them.

Volvo Trucks says it has sold 1,000 of its heavy-duty e-trucks, and over 2,600 electric trucks in total. By 2030, the company expects EVs account for 50 percent of its global truck sales, and 70 percent in Europe. Volvo plans to produce the FH, FM and FMX in Australia beginning in 2025.

Source: The Driven

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