Volvo Trucks will start selling electric trucks in 2019, with the first units being put into operation with selected customers later this year.

The company believes that future urban deliveries could be carried out at night by a few large electric trucks rather than lots of small vans.

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

“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.”

Volvo trucks believes that if a larger proportion of transport assignments could be carried out during hours when fewer people are on the road, this will also significantly reduce the risk of road accidents.

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

Electrification of urban distribution is the first step for Volvo Trucks, which is currently working on electrification for other transport applications.