Electric refrigeration truck under development by Volta & Petit Forestier
Startup Volta Trucks has announced plans to develop an all-electric refrigerated truck based on the Volta Zero. To this end, the company is cooperating with the Petit Forestier Group, which specializes in the rental of refrigerated vehicles.
The first of these refrigerated trucks are scheduled to go to customers for testing in 2021, before production starts in larger numbers in 2022, according to Volta. A total of 1,000 Volta Zeros with refrigerated bodies will then be sold to Petit Forestier Group (which claims to be Europe’s leading refrigerated truck rental company,) for onward rental. Volta does not specify the financial scope of the agreement in the release.
Lecapitaine, a design office belonging to Petit Forestier, is involved in the development of the refrigerated body. The aim is not just to develop a cuboidal refrigerated body for a conventional truck. As with the examples of the Zero shown so far, the cooling body is also to be integrated into the body of Volta’s e-truck.
In addition to the acquisition of the 1,000 vehicles, the strategic partnership also focuses on the joint development of technical know-how for the maintenance of electric vehicles in order to offer end customers a full-service solution.
“When we launched the Volta Zero, we knew that there was a pent-up demand for the electrification of trucks,” says Volta CEO Rob Fowler. “The unprecedented reaction from our customers, decarbonising their fleets to meet forthcoming legislation, and improving the environment for everyone, has more than validated our expectations.” Léonard Forestier, CEO of Petit Forestier Group, adds, “In response to environmental issues and reasonable concerns about accessibility in city centres, greener energies are a promising driver of growth for the Petit Forestier Group and this collaboration with Volta Trucks perfectly illustrates our vision.”
Volta Trucks had unveiled the Zero in July 2020 as a sustainable electric truck for city centers. Unlike other electric trucks, which are basically converted diesel trucks, the Zero was designed specifically for use as a delivery vehicle in inner cities, according to the company. The Zero is said to offer a payload of up to 8.6 tons, and the concept vehicle is 9.46 meters long, 2.55 meters wide and 3.4 meters high. The 160 to 200 kWh batteries are expected to provide a range of between 150 and 200 kilometers, and because of its urban-focused use, the top speed is to be limited to between 80 and 90 kph.
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