Volta Trucks, the Scandinavian start-up full-electric vehicle manufacturer, will soon start a pilot test of its forthcoming Volta Zero with DPD, the UK’s leading parcel delivery service. The Volta Zero will be tested by DPD within London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone in the first quarter of 2021, supporting their micro-depot strategy in Westminster.

“DPD Group UK Ltd are happy to announce a trial of the Volta Zero 16 tonne purpose built fully electric vehicle planned for 2021.The vehicle is an ideal fit for our Urban Logistics strategy; and the fact that it will be the most sustainable commercial vehicle is a fantastic achievement too, and mirrors our own strategy to be the UK’s leader in sustainable delivery,” said Olly Craughan, CSR general manager of DPD Group UK Ltd.

“As the world’s first purpose-built full-electric large commercial vehicle, the Volta Zero was specifically designed to deliver parcels and freight in inner city locations where today’s air quality and noise pollution challenges are at their worst. The Volta Zero’s full-electric, zero-emission operation is perfectly suited to DPD’s distribution requirements within London’s strict Ultra Low Emission Zone, delivering parcels to Central London’s customers in a clean and efficient way,” said Rob Fowler, chief executive officer of Volta Trucks.

“The Volta Zero is also much safer for the city’s pedestrians and other road users than other large goods vehicles, thanks to the unique design of the cab that offers the driver significantly enhanced visibility. Its full-electric drivetrain also offers near-silent operation, meaning DPD will be able to utilise the Volta Zero in the centre of London in an efficient 24- hour operation.”

Volta Trucks has offices in the UK and Sweden and has partnered with a number of industry-leading design and engineering companies to develop the Zero, including Prodrive, Astheimer and Magtec. The first prototype Volta Zero is currently being built, and will be launched later in 2020, with the first pilot test vehicles due to start evaluation with customers in the first quarter of next year. Designed from the ground up with an operating pure-electric range of 150-200 kms (95–125 miles), the Volta Zero will eliminate an estimated 180,000 tonnes of CO2 by 2025.

The Volta Zero was designed for electric from the outset, which facilitates a step-change in vehicle and pedestrian safety. Thanks to the removal of the internal combustion engine, the operator of a Volta Zero sits in a central driving position, with a much lower seat height than a conventional truck. This combination, plus a glass house-style cab design, gives the driver a wide 220-degrees of visibility, minimising dangerous blind spots.