Volvo presents new electric axle for extended range

Volvo Trucks has unveiled a new fully electric rear axle, which it says frees up more space for more batteries, thus allowing for an even longer range for Volvo’s battery electric trucks.

The manufacturer currently has the widest offer of battery electric trucks in the industry, with six different models in serial production. Depending on the model, the range is up to 440 km in one charge.

The new e-axle – presented for the first time at IAA Transportation 2022 – allows even more batteries on the truck by integrating the electric motors and the transmission into the rear axle.

More batteries mean longer range, which creates opportunities to provide electric solutions for even long-distance transport.

On the fuel cell electric trucks that will be introduced in the second half of this decade, Volvo Trucks says the additional space comes in handy for installing other components.

“This is a breakthrough for electric trucks and a clear signal that there will be a huge demand for public fast-chargers for heavy trucks in the near future, not least along highways,” says Jessica Sandström, SVP global product management at Volvo Trucks.

Volvo Trucks adds that it will start serial production of cab over engine trucks with the new e-axle in a few years from now, and it will complement the current line-up of battery electric trucks.

“We will continue with our versatile battery electric trucks that are already in production. They can currently cover a wide range of transport assignments. In a few years, we will add this new rear e-axle for customers covering longer routes than today,” says Sandström.