Volta Trucks presents 7.5- and 12-ton trucks

The new all-electric vehicles remain visually close to the larger 16-ton vehicle, which is currently undergoing a final phase of development work as well as extensive vehicle testing and is set to be tested by customers in practical operation later this year. The 7.5- and 12-ton vehicles will have an identical vehicle front, with the twelve-tonner having a longer chassis and a longer body as well as twin rear wheels due to the higher payload. The lighter Voltas can be visually recognized mainly by the smaller wheels.

Low-entry cab like the 16-tonner

The 7.5- and 12-ton models also follow the principle of the innovative cab and the high-quality work environment for drivers. Since the vehicle was designed from the ground up without the traditional combustion engine, designers and engineers were able to completely rethink truck design in this segment. The driver of a Volta Zero has a wide field of vision of 220 degrees around the vehicle. This panoramic view from the glazed cab avoids blind spots and offers an optimal view that has been rated five stars by Transport for London (Direct Vision Standard). The protection of vulnerable road users is also enhanced by the use of rearview cameras instead of traditional mirrors, a camera for a 360-degree bird's eye view of the entire environment, and blind spot warning systems that alert to objects beside the vehicle.

The driver sits low – with the eye point at 1.8 meters height

Since there is no need to house a combustion engine, the driver of a Volta Zero sits much lower than in a conventional truck, with an eye height of about 1.8 meters, which corresponds to the eye height of pedestrians and other road users and allows for easy visual communication. And thanks to the innovative central seating position in the Volta Zero, the driver can get in and out on both sides, always onto the sidewalk for their own safety, and through sliding doors instead of swinging doors to ensure the safety of passing cyclists as well.

Series production from 2024 in Steyr

The development of the 7.5 and 12-ton weight classes started in December 2021, and it is expected that a pilot fleet for initial customer tests will be launched in 2024. Series production is scheduled to begin in early 2025. By 2025, Volta Trucks aims to sell more than 27,000 vehicles annually and to further increase these sales figures in the following years. The planned 7.5 and 12-ton vehicles will significantly contribute to achieving this goal. Currently, the first areas are being cleared and projected for production at the former MAN plant in Steyr with Steyr Motors. Essa Al-Saleh, Chief Executive Officer of Volta Trucks, explained when introducing the new model series:

“The new 7.5 and 12-ton models complete the all-electric Volta Zero vehicle family. They complement our 16-ton vehicle, which is currently undergoing extensive testing before being used by customers for the first time later this year, and the 18-ton vehicle, which will go into production in mid-2023. Our customers tell us that they appreciate the safety and emission-free operation of our 16-tonner but also need smaller 7.5 and 12-ton models in practical operation. Our vehicle developers are now working intensively to complete all four vehicle variants as soon as possible and to give our customers what they need.”

What does this mean?

Volta is making full use of the modular system and adding lighter versions to the 16-ton models – because not every supplier needs the high payload, but instead volume.