VOLVO FL ELECTRIC ARRIVES IN AUSTRALIA

Volvo Trucks Australia has announced the arrival of the first Volvo FL Electric on Australian shores. This first unit will be fitted with an eight-pallet body and tailgate lift and is destined for trials and evaluation with Linfox, undertaking metropolitan deliveries within BevChain, its leading beverage logistics business, starting in April 2021.

Linfox is a member of the Electric Vehicle Council, the national body representing Australia’s electric vehicle industry.

In late 2020, Volvo Trucks announced its intention for all Volvo Trucks to be fossil-fuel-free by 2040. It also announced that pre-sales for the European market of a complete range of electric heavy-duty truck models would begin in 2021, with production starting in 2022.

The 4x2 Volvo FL Electric is powered by 600V, 200kWh battery packs, which power a 200kW/425Nm motor. Power gets to the drive wheels via a two-speed I-Shift automated transmission.

“This is a very exciting time to be a part of Volvo Trucks Australia. The path to a cleaner, safer and ultimately more enjoyable cityscape is being paved as we speak. I look forward to seeing this truck plying the streets of an Australian capital city in the very near future,” says vice-president, Volvo Trucks Australia, Tony O’Connell.

The road map to a fossilfree future for Volvo Trucks also includes developing hydrogen fuel-cell technology for long-haul applications to complement the more urbancentric electric drivelines and the gradual phasing out of the traditional diesel engine.