Volvo Trucks has recently provided a haulier in Gothenburg, Sweden, with an electric truck designed for 74 tonne heavy transport.
This reflects a growing trend among hauliers who are investing in electric trucks, even for heavy-duty operations. Mattson Åkeri, a company based in Gothenburg, has purchased three heavy electric Volvo FH trucks from Volvo.
The electric truck has been undergoing testing for the past few weeks in the container traffic area of Arendal, Gothenburg. This test forms part of a High-Capacity Transport (HCT) project. The truck, with two trailers, measures 32 meters in length and can handle a gross combination weight of 74 tonnes.
“We want to show that all-electric solutions also work in applications with high total weights and a high utilisation rate. Together with Mattson Åkeri, the Swedish Transport Administration and several other partners, we are now looking at how we can optimise the operation of the electric truck, including how charging should take place in the most efficient way,” said Lena Larsson, project manager of the HCT project within Volvo’s technology organisation.
The specific electric truck being tested is the Volvo FH Electric 6x4, which is charged with green electricity using two fast 180kW chargers installed at Mattsson Åkeri’s depot in Arendal. In the future, the truck will also operate between Gothenburg and the city of Borås, which is located 70 kilometers away.
“Driving long and heavy loads using electricity works very well so far, and we can carry as much cargo as a diesel truck,” says Jan-Olof Mattsson, CEO of Mattson Åkeri. “The truck runs 12 hours a day, with a stop for charging when the driver takes a break. We charge with green electricity and thus get no CO2 emissions. Silent, electric operation also means a better working environment for the driver.”
