Logistics service provider DB Schenker has signed an agreement with Swedish EV startup Volta Trucks to preorder nearly 1,500 electric Volta Zero commercial vehicles.
As part of the agreement, DB Schenker will use the first prototype Volta Zero trucks in real distribution conditions in the spring and summer of 2022. The findings from these tests will be incorporated into the serial production of 1,470 vehicles built at Volta Trucks’ new contract manufacturing facility in Steyr, Austria.
The fully electric 16-ton Volta Zero will be used at DB Schenker’s European terminals to transport goods from distribution hubs to the city centers and urban areas. The rollout will begin at 10 locations in five countries.
Cyrille Bonjean, executive vice president of land transport at DB Schenker in Europe, said, “We have many challenges to overcome on the road to carbon neutrality. The large-scale partnership with Volta Trucks allows us to significantly increase the pace of electrification of our fleet and invest in greener transport solutions, bringing us closer again to our goal of carbon-neutral logistics.”
Essa Al-Saleh, CEO of Volta Trucks, said, “I am delighted to welcome DB Schenker as a Volta Trucks customer. Working with DB Schenker on Europe’s largest full-electric truck order demonstrates the confidence that major freight distributors have in our ability to deliver a world-class zero-emission vehicle on time and to the highest possible quality.”
The partnership will also jointly develop specifications for the previously announced 12-ton Volta Zero variant, conducting site testing to accelerate driver training and the deployment of vehicles.