The new long-distance electric truck from Volvo has a range of up to 600 kilometers and its batteries can be charged in 40 minutes. An advanced electric drivetrain with permanent magnet motors and integrated transmission is a key aspect of the design. Volvo began showing and revealing details about its new heavy-duty electric flagship FH Aero Electric with e-axle for long-distance transport just recently. Launch of the vehicle is planned for second quarter of 2026 in Europe.
“This is a real breakthrough in zero-emission transport. Now, transport companies can operate really long distances with electric trucks without having to compromise on productivity. The superfast charging and high payload capacity make this a very competitive solution,” says Roger Alm, President Volvo Trucks. “Electric trucks in long-haul operation will make an important contribution to reduce CO2 in our industry, since this is where you can save the most per truck. This is positive news for transport companies and for society.”
Charging the batteries will be done more rapidly in accordance with the new MCS (Megawatt Charging System) standard. Charging the battery pack (from 20% to 80%) will take approximately 40 minutes, which means it can be done within the legislated rest period for truck drivers within the EU and allows for truly long-distance electric transport to take place within one day.
It can have a total weight of 48 tons and a payload capacity close to that of a conventional diesel truck. The payload capacity is possible thanks to an extra supporting tag axle (6×2 axle configuration) that allows for more batteries onboard and provides benefits in terms of weight distribution, considering the weight of the extra batteries in combination with heavy trailers. The vehicle can have 8 batteries onboard with 780 kWh installed battery capacity.
The motors are located within the new e-axle situated to the rear of the vehicle cab. The e-axle also houses the transmission, consolidating all drive components at the back. There are three electric motors that work in conjunction with Volvo’s I-Shift transmission. See www.volvo.com.
