Volta Trucks has struck a tyre partnership with Bridgestone, covering the first launch vehicle and the supply of tyres to the pilot vehicles that are due to start evaluation with fleet operators in early 2021.

Large logistics fleet operators have already signed-up to trial the Volta Zero, including DPD Group in the UK and Bring and Posten in Scandinavia, with orders also already being taken for the vehicle in both markets.

Bridgestone have supplied the Volta Zero with their 285/70R19.5 146/144M R-Steer 002 tyre for both front and rear axles.

The tyre’s steer pattern delivers an optimum performance for high-torque full-electric vehicles and thanks to its ribbed design tread pattern, the R-Steer tyre also offers significant tyre noise reduction, said Volta.

This is an important attribute for the Volta Zero that is designed predominantly for inner city usage, with its silent full-electric powertrain enabling it to operate in urban areas 24 hours a day, even with the most stringent noise pollution regulations.

Andrea Manenti, vice president, north region of Bridgestone, said: “The transportation industry is in rapid transformation and vehicles are becoming more and more CASE - connected, autonomous, shared and electric.

“We are proud to partner with Volta Trucks, an exciting new manufacturer of electric vehicles, as their demonstrator fleet of the Volta Zero hits the road for the first time.”

Rob Fowler, CEO of Volta Trucks, added: “I’m delighted that Volta Trucks is partnering with Bridgestone for the supply of tyres to our launch and demonstrator fleet vehicles.

“As the manufacturer of the world’s first purpose-built full-electric large commercial vehicle, we are pioneering in the electrification of commercial vehicles and I am pleased to work with an innovative and world-renowned tyre company like Bridgestone who can help support our early ambitions.”

The Volta Zero is a purpose-built fully-electric 16-tonne vehicle designed for inner-city freight deliveries, reducing the environmental impact of freight deliveries in city centres. Designed from the ground up with an operating pure-electric range of 150 - 200 kms (95 – 125 miles), the Volta Zero will eliminate an estimated 180,000 tonnes of CO2 by 2025.

Thanks to the removal of the internal combustion engine, the operator of a Volta Zero sits in a central driving position, with a much lower seat height than a conventional truck. This combination, plus a glass house-style cab design, gives the driver a wide 220-degrees of visibility, minimising dangerous blind spots.

The first prototype Volta Zero is currently being built, and will be launched later in 2020, with the first pilot test vehicles due to start evaluation with customers in Q1-2021.

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