Swedish start-up Volta Trucks, a start-up electric vehicle manufacturer, has revealed the new Volta Zero – its first vehicle and the world’s first purpose-built full-electric 16-tonne commercial vehicle designed specifically for inner-city parcel and freight distribution.

From launch, the Volta Zero is expecting to be a significant contributor to the future vision of zero-emission cities world-wide.

The vehicle will start undertaking operator trials with some of Europe’s largest parcel delivery and logistics companies in the first half of 2021 before series production starts in 2022.

Rob Fowler, Volta Trucks CEO, said: “Commercial vehicles form the lifeblood of commerce and livelihoods in cities, but today’s large trucks dangerously impose themselves on our streets and dominate their surroundings. With the launch of the Volta Zero, we are changing the face of road transport.

“Volta Trucks is redefining the perception of the large commercial vehicle, and how it operates in, and integrates with, the zero-emission towns and cities of the future.

“This is made possible by the three pillars that define both Volta Trucks as a business and the Volta Zero - safety, sustainability, and electrification. Add to that our unique ‘Truck as a Service’ proposition that re-imagines a fleet manager’s business model. At Volta Trucks, we are directly contributing to society’s migration towards an electrified future."

Carsten Astheimer, managing director of Astheimer Design and lead-designer of the Volta Zero, said: “By removing the traditional internal combustion engine that has always sat high in the front of a truck, we had a clean sheet of paper to design the commercial vehicle suitable for the 21st century, rethinking the layout and design the truck and its cab.

“We had three main priorities for the design of the cab. We wanted it to be best in class for safety, ease and efficiency of ingress and egress, and the best driver environment of any truck on the market. With the Volta Zero, I can comfortably say that we have achieved that goal."

Carl-Magnus Norden, founder of Volta Trucks, said: "Sustainability is at the very core of our business. Saving the planet cannot wait, it must happen now, and Volta Trucks wants to spearhead the rapid change in large commercial vehicles, from outdated diesel to clean and safe technological solutions."

The Volta Zero will be the first road vehicle to use a sustainably sourced natural Flax material and biodegradable resin in the construction of exterior body panels, with the cab’s dark body panels and many interior trims constructed from the natural material.

At launch, Volta Trucks will be the first full-electric large commercial vehicle manufacturer in Europe to use an innovative e-Axle to drive the rear wheels, rather than the conventional electric motor and driveshaft set up used by other electric truck manufacturers.

During 2021, Volta Trucks will develop a UK head office and after-sales facility in a West London location to service the vehicles that will operate in the pilot trials in London. By the end of 2021, it is anticipated that the Volta Trucks will have created about 130 skilled automotive and engineering jobs, with its headcount rising to around 150 people.