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Volvo Trucks opens its first battery assembly plant. The plant, located in Ghent, Belgium, will supply ready-to-use batteries for fully electric heavy trucks from Volvo Trucks.
“This investment demonstrates our strong commitment to electrified transportation. By 2030, at least 50 percent of all trucks we sell worldwide will be electric trucks and by 2040 we will be a carbon neutral company,” said Roger Alm, President of Volvo Trucks.
At the new battery factory, cells and modules from Samsung SDI are assembled into battery packs tailor-made for Volvo Trucks’ heavy-duty electric range: Volvo FH, Volvo FM and Volvo FMX. Series production will begin in the third quarter of this year.
Shorter waiting time
Each battery pack has a capacity of 90 kWh. Transport companies can choose to have up to six battery packs (540 kWh) in the truck. The amount of battery depends on the specific application and the desired charging capacity. “By integrating the battery assembly process into our production, we can reduce waiting time for our customers and preserve batteries. At the same time, we are making a positive contribution to the circular economy,” said Alm.
Volvo Trucks batteries are designed in such a way that they can be overhauled, updated and reused at a later date. The factory in Ghent itself is powered by 100% renewable energy.
Electrical Solutions
This year, European production of three fully electric models for heavier use will begin. As such, Volvo Trucks offers a total of six electric truck models worldwide, from urban distribution and waste processing to regional transportation and construction works.
“We started serial production of electric trucks in 2019. We are a market leader in Europe and North America. With the rapid development of charging networks and improvements in battery technology, I am confident that we will see a rapid transformation of the entire trucking industry in the near future,” concluded Roger Alm.
