Commercial vehicle manufacturer Volta Trucks has selected Proterra as the battery supplier for its upcoming Volta Zero, an electric 16-ton vehicle designed specifically for inner-city freight distribution.

The collaboration represents US-based Proterra’s entry into the European truck market.

Volta launched a prototype Volta Zero in September 2020. It plans to start customer trials later in 2021, and to begin series production about 12 months later.

The Volta Zero was designed as an EV from the outset, and safety was a prime consideration. Thanks to the absence of an internal combustion engine, the operator of a Volta Zero sits in a central driving position, with a much lower seat height than in a conventional truck. This, combined with a glasshouse-style cab design, is designed to give the driver a wide 220 degrees of visibility, minimizing dangerous blind spots.

The Proterra-supplied battery pack is expected to give the Volta Zero a real-world range of 200 km, more than enough for most inner-city logistics and distribution vehicles, which spend most of their operating time in slow-moving start/stop traffic. The customizable design of Proterra’s battery pack allows it to be located between the vehicle’s chassis rails.

Proterra batteries feature passive and active safety features, as well as liquid thermal conditioning. They conform to safety standards including ISO 26262 (up to ASIL C). The Proterra battery is designed to deliver over 4,000 recharge cycles over 10 years without significant degradation.

“When talking to our extensive group of customers, vehicle range is uppermost in their minds as it sits at the heart of the vehicle’s ability to deliver for them,” said Volta Trucks CEO Rob Fowler. “It was therefore imperative that we work with an industry leader to ensure the quality, longevity, and safe performance of the battery. Proterra’s cutting-edge but well-proven battery technology perfectly delivers all of this for us and our customers.”

Source: Proterra