Almost three years after sharing the renderings of the electrical goods carrier, commercial e-truck startup Volta Trucks has announced that it is heading to the United States. A design-validation prototype of the Class 7 Volta Zero is scheduled to enter California prior to pilot testing in the second half of 2023.
The U.S. vehicle debut at next month’s Advanced Clean Transportation Expo in Anaheim follows the granting of type approval certification in Europe, which allows the company to manufacture and sell the model across the continent. can. A second-generation prototype will be loaned to customers for evaluation, so fleet his operators can “fully understand how all-electric medium-duty trucks will be integrated into their operations.”
The U.S. deployment will begin on the West Coast, with Class 6 and Class 7 vehicles being offered to operators as part of a pilot fleet trial similar to schemes operating in Europe. The 16-ton Zero truck features a modular (150 to 225 kWh) Proterra battery bank, capable of 95 to 125 miles of city driving on a single charge, and a Cummins Accelera-supplied motor and transmission. , with axles in combination. from Michigan.
Drivers are seated in the center of the cabin, with a wide 220-degree field of view at eye level for other road users, and access from both sides of the ‘Glass House Style Cabin’ via sliding doors .
Vehicles built to US specifications are expected to be available from 2024. Volta has introduced a Truck-as-a-Service model that allows companies to pay a monthly rental fee for their electric trucks, plus the necessary service, maintenance, training and insurance requirements. The company is looking to set up service hubs near customer distribution centers and develop a network of partner facilities.
“From our launch in Europe, we have developed with speed and scale, with a deep understanding of our customers’ needs, to accelerate the transition to electric commercial vehicles and help decarbonize urban centers. We’re building on the important lessons learned,” said Volta’s. CEO, Essa Al Saleh. “The United States faces the same safety and sustainability issues that we grapple with in Europe and is a significant market opportunity for us. We are pleased to offer a road-certified vehicle for our customers to evaluate later this year.”
If all goes according to plan, the 19,500-pound Class 5 and 26,000-pound Class 6 trucks will join Volta’s U.S. fleet in 2026.
Source: Volta Truck
