Volvo Trucks tests electric trucks at the Arctic Circle

When it gets cold outside, a smartphone battery loses performance. To spare its electric trucks from this fate, Volvo Trucks also tests its battery-powered vehicles in extreme cold near the Arctic Circle. The result is a function that maintains battery performance even when temperatures drop well below freezing.

"We have customers all over the world and our trucks must work everywhere. That's why tests under adverse climatic conditions are essential, and of course, this also applies to our electrically powered vehicles," says Jessica Sandström, SVP Product Management at Volvo Trucks.

What happens to a battery-powered truck when the thermometer reads -25° C and strong wind arises? To find out, Volvo Trucks conducted winter tests in the far north of Sweden.

"In our practical testing of trucks in northern Sweden near the Arctic Circle, we expose the vehicles to all conceivable adversities of nature," Sandström continues. "The wind causes the vehicle to freeze from the outside, allowing us to thoroughly ensure that everything works properly even under extreme conditions. Our tests have shown that our electrically powered trucks are indeed suitable for operation in extreme cold."

A tangible result of the winter tests is the new "Ready to Run" feature, which means "ready to drive." Depending on the need, this function prepares the vehicle for the workday by preheating the batteries and the cab or cooling them in very warm weather. The optimal temperature for batteries is around +25 °C, and the driver can conveniently start the preheating or precooling via a remote access app.