Drinks are on the Volta Zero e-truck

London-based sustainable drinks brand Drinks Cubed has signed a multi-million-pound deal for the supply of a fleet of Volta Zero vehicles into its distribution operations between 2022 and 2023.

Less than a month after the launch of the full-electric 16-tonne large commercial vehicle with 150-200km range, Volta Trucks confirms it has taken the first orders for the Volta Zero, production starting in 2022.

Drinks Cubed is said to be the world’s first drinks company to use Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paperboard harvested in a sustainable manner, the similar Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) certified aluminium, and European Union sourced plant-based plastics in its packaging.

Complementing that approach, the Volta Zero is the first road vehicle to use a carbon-neutral, flax fibre and biodegradable resin composite in its body panels.

“We are incredibly passionate about the challenges humanity faces today but like the team at Volta Trucks, we weren’t content with just discussing the problems – we wanted to find the solutions,” Drinks Cubed co-founder Sukhi Sindhu says.

“So, as well as looking at our carbon footprint when it came to our packaging, we also needed to address our distribution too. That is where the Volta Zero will play its part. Volta Trucks has taken a holistic approach to sustainability, looking further than just tailpipe emissions and into sustainable methods of manufacturing and components. With Volta Trucks, we have found a brand with shared sustainability values.”

The Volta Zero was launched on September 3, the online event viewed by more than 30,000 people and generating global coverage.

“The reception to the Volta Zero has been overwhelming – beyond even our most optimistic expectations,” Volta Trucks chief executive Rob Fowler says.

“Following the reveal, we have received enquiries for vehicles from all over the world.”

Fowler says that Drinks Cubed is also a member of Volta’s Pioneer Programme and will be trialling pilot fleet vehicles in H1-2021 to understand how full-electric vehicles can integrate into their operations.

“They’ll also help us learn more about customer requirements so we can adapt and modify the final specification of customer vehicles.”