Volta Zero real-world testing underway

Swedish startup Volta Trucks has marked the start of engineering evaluation and real-world testing of the first fully electric prototype Volta Zero. 

The testing is taking place over several months at automotive engineering and development consultancy Horiba Mira in Nuneaton, UK. 

Volta says it is on track towards starting series production in December 2022. It is the world’s first purpose-built electric 16-tonne commercial vehicle designed specifically for inner city logistics.

The prototype vehicle uses the proposed production specification chassis frame and drivetrain of the finished vehicle and will test all the electro-mechanical and thermal properties of the truck.

This includes the high-voltage battery supplied by Proterra, and the compact rear axle, electric motor and transmission eAxle unit from Meritor. 

The unconventional bodywork of the prototype is purely designed to protect the development driver from the elements when the vehicle is moving at speed. The production vehicle will feature a cargo box design, but the prototype uses a flatbed to allow engineers to add different levels and locations of loads to test its weight-carrying capacity.

The test and development programme with the current and later-specification prototypes will also include periods of cold weather testing north of the Arctic Circle, and hot weather testing in southern Europe. 

The learnings will be taken into the production of pilot fleet vehicles that will be tested and evaluated by key customers who have signed up for both testing and the option to purchase series production trucks. 

This is designed to develop their understanding of how the Volta Zero will integrate into their operations.

Volta Trucks chief product officer Ian Collins says the start of testing and evaluation of the first prototype Volta Zero “is a major milestone” on the  journey towards production. 

“To have achieved this landmark moment in just eight months is a great example of the nimble and agile approach we have at Volta Trucks. 

“We work at high pace to ensure that we can bring zero emission, full-electric commercial vehicles to market quickly, because our customers require vehicles as soon as possible. 

“We need to go through a comprehensive and thorough development programme, but the start of prototype testing is evidence that we are on track to deliver production vehicles, on time, by the end of next year,” Collins says. 

Volta Zero

The truck is said to have a 150-200km range and includes an e-Axle for enhanced efficiency and range. It will also offer the latest advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).

The Volta Zero uses lithium iron phosphate batteries providing 160-200 kWh of power, the battery able to be recycled and reused as an energy storage device.

It has an 8600kg payload, with an overall volume of 37.7m3 and is designed to accommodate 16 Euro pallets.

About 9.460m long, 3.47m high and 2.55m wide, the Volta Zero has a 4.80m wheelbase and is limited to a top speed of 90km/h, the design allowing it to easily use narrow city streets.

Volta Trucks expects the vehicle will eliminate an estimated 1.2 million tonnes of CO₂ by 2025.