The Swedish company Volta is currently developing electric trucks in Austria’s Steyr Automotive factory. The first trucks developed are aimed for city distribution and can go up to 300 kilometres. However, Volta is currently also working on developing batteries for longer-distance trips. The Big Buyers Working Together (BBWT) Community of Practice on Heavy Duty Electric Vehicles (HDEV) visited the production facility to learn more about the latest market developments.

The first prototype of the Volta truck is 10,5 metres long and weighs 16 tonnes (in the future they could weigh up to 26 tonnes). The first vehicles will be delivered in Germany, with Sweden and Norway soon to follow. In the current prototype the batteries are located in the middle of the body to stabilise the trucks and ensure their safety. The batteries can be removed from the ground, and also function well in cold weather.

The 2,5 metre wide cabin was developed in consultation with the truck drivers’ union, which had noted that drivers often face physical difficulties related to their knees and hips. As a result, the cabin was designed to be more ergonomic, making the truck easier to drive. In addition, the trucks were developed with a 220 degree panoramic cab to take pedestrian safety into account, and with a heating and cooling system.

Steyr Automotive is a fitting partner for Volta. 30% of its electricity consumption comes from solar energy, and it is planning to become the plant with the largest rooftop solar panels in Austria. Moreover, they are a Tier-1 supplier since March 2023. Volta can also learn from Steyr’s own M.U.T waste collection trucks. They are 100% electric and have an automatic recognition system, which balances the weight of the bin with a software system that sees if the waste has actually been picked up. As Steyr Automotive cooperates with many different partners, they have a Europe-wide service network and can quickly adapt to the needs of its end users.

For BBWT’s HDEV CoP it was a great opportunity to see both brands of trucks produced at the factory, getting a better understanding of the options on the market. The CoP seeks to better understand how to maximise the longevity of heavy duty electric vehicles, with a special focus on vehicles for environmental services, particularly street cleansing and waste collection. It will organise more similar study visits in the future. To receive more information about its work, or to join it, send an email to big.buyers@eurocities.eu