Volta Trucks has announced the start of series production of its battery-powered Volta Zero.
The 16-tonne all-electric truck is being built by its contract manufacturing partner Stery Automotive in Austria, and the initial batch of trucks to roll off the line will be used for the Volta Zero Driving Experience Programme. This initiative will see potential customers being loaned a truck for a set period of time, allowing them to better understand how a zero-tailpipe-emission medium-duty truck will fit into their operations.
Volta Trucks has previously announced pre-orders of 6,500 units, and the first of these is set to be delivered to customers in the third quarter of 2023.
“The first full production Volta Zero going into the production line here at Steyr is the most substantial milestone the company has achieved to date,” said co-founder and chief manufacturing and logistics officer of Volta Trucks, Kjell Walöen. “In just 2.5 years, less than half the time existing truck manufacturers take, we have moved from launching a concept, through the engineering, development and quality phases and now the start of production of the final specification models that will be driven by customers, making our urban environments safer and more sustainable. The industry-leading pace to market set by Volta Trucks is a true testament to the highly skilled and driven professionals in the company and our partners, and the whole team is extremely proud of this milestone moment.”
Steyr Automotive has reserved a capacity of up to 14,000 vehicles per annum for Volta Trucks.
The Volta Zero, which claims to be the world’s first purpose-built all-electric 16-tonne vehicle designed for urban logistics, has a central seat and characteristically low driving position. It has a claimed range of between 95 and 125 miles.
