DB Schenker pre-orders 1,500 Volta Zero electric trucks

DB Schenker, one of the world’s leading logistics service providers and the leader in European land transport, has pre-ordered 1,500 Volta Zero electric trucks. This is the most significant order for large zero-emission trucks in Europe to date. As part of the partnership, DB Schenker will use the first prototype of Volta Zero Trucks in real distribution conditions in spring and summer of 2022. The findings from these tests will be incorporated into the serial production of 1,470 vehicles built at Volta Trucks’ new contract manufacturing facility in Steyr, Austria. Indeed, the Italian headquarters of DB Schenker hosted one of the stages of the European roadshow, last june (here’s our video interview with Business Development Manager Carla Detrieux).

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Next step for the Volta Zero truck. Real-world trials in the UK for the prototype

The prototype vehicle uses the proposed production specification chassis frame and drivetrain of the finished vehicle and will test all the electro-mechanical and thermal properties of the truck, which will be on tour throughout the UK in September.

According to the press release, the full-electric 16-tonne Volta Zero is used in DB Schenker’s European terminals to transport goods from distribution hubs to the city centres and urban areas. This is where the vehicle’s innovative design, safety-oriented cab to protect vulnerable road users, and zero-emission drivetrain offer the greatest benefits. Together, DB Schenker and Volta Trucks will explore the potential uses of the technology to potentially expand the offering. The rollout will begin at 10 locations in 5 countries. The partnership will also jointly develop specifications for the previously announced 12-tonne Volta Zero variant, conducting site testing to accelerate vehicle deployment of vehicles, and train drivers.

Statements from DB Schenker and Volta Trucks

“We have many challenges to overcome on the road to carbon neutrality. The large-scale partnership with Volta Trucks allows us to significantly increase the pace of electrification of our fleet and invest in greener transport solutions, brings us closer again to our goal of carbon neutral logistics”, said Cyrille Bonjean, Executive Vice President Land Transport at DB Schenker in Europe.

Essa Al-Saleh, Chief Executive Officer of Volta Trucks, added: “I am delighted to welcome DB Schenker as a Volta Trucks customer. Working with DB Schenker on Europe’s largest full-electric truck order demonstrates the confidence that major freight distributors have in our ability to deliver a world-class zero-emission vehicle on time and to the highest possible quality”.