Supplied by Jose Lavarello, key account manager for Volvo Trucks UK & Ireland, the new FM Electric with Globetrotter cab meets the Direct Vision Standard three-star rating and will operate with various trailer types and lengths. It will be used to deliver goods to stores across Greater London, Suffolk, Essex and Kent, hauling ambient grocery items seven days a week.
Christian Coolsaet, managing director of Volvo Trucks UK & Ireland, said: “Our new Volvo FM Electric is the perfect solution for performing high-capacity grocery deliveries with less environmental impact, and it’s fantastic to see the first example enter service with Tesco. This model is ideal for supermarket fleets wanting to transition to battery electric trucks, and we’re very confident it’s going to generate a lot of interest on the road.”
The FM Electric is powered by three electrical motors, generating 2,400 Nm of continuous torque. These motors are paired with Volvo’s popular I-Shift gearbox, which is said to deliver a smooth driving experience by evaluating information about speed, weight, road grade and torque demand.
This power is managed by an onboard electromobility traction control system which helps manage output on slippery surfaces, while different drive modes are available to set the performance, comfort, and energy usage levels.
Equipped with six batteries, the truck is said to offer a range of approximately 300km and will primarily be charged on site in Thurrock. It has a charging time of 2.5 hours with a 250kW DC charger, or 9.5 hours on a 43 kW AC charger. The battery can also be charged more quickly up to 80% capacity mid-shift because the charger slows down towards the end of the process to protect the battery cells.
The truck is backed with a five-year Volvo Gold Contract covering all maintenance and repairs, and including proactive monitoring of batteries and associated components.