Source: Energy & Management Powernews, 07 January 2022
The efficiency of even heavy trucks with electric drive, the truck manufacturer Volvo has now determined in a test on public roads.
The truck tested was a Volvo FH Electric, an exhaust-free vehicle with a continuous output of 490 kW and a total towing weight of 40 tons.
The truck was tested on the "Green Truck Award Route," a 343-kilometer route that includes various highways, hilly terrain and narrower roads, where trucks from different manufacturers are tested under realistic conditions.
The Volvo FH Electric achieved an average speed of 80 km/h over the entire route, putting it on par with the Volvo FH with diesel engine, which is equipped with a fuel efficiency package. With an energy consumption of 1.1 kWh/km, the electric truck had a total range of 345 kilometers on one charge of electricity and used 50% less energy than its diesel counterpart, according to Volvo.
"These test results show that it is possible to drive up to 500 kilometers during a normal working day. With a short stop to recharge, for example during the lunch break," explains Tobias Bergman from Volvo Trucks. The company has set itself the goal of half of its truck sales being electric vehicles by 2030.
Author: Peter Koller