Voltempo’s driverless electric truck without a cab
Voltempo is developing a 15.6-meter-long electric truck without a driver’s cab. This autonomous vehicle is designed to offer more loading capacity and payload. A first prototype is scheduled for 2027.
Voltempo refers to this concept as a “Smart Trailer.” The vehicle is intended to have a continuous, rigid structure, and at 15.6 meters, it will far exceed the current maximum length of 12 meters allowed in Britain for trucks with a fixed chassis. It is planned to have five axles and a permissible total weight of 42 tons, according to the British industry magazine Autocar.
Voltempo aims to reduce weight and interior space by eliminating the driver’s cab. According to company founder Michael Boxwell, this design is expected to offer about 15 percent more loading capacity than a conventional trailer and an additional payload of five to seven tons. Voltempo estimates the vehicle’s weight at ten to twelve tons, while a conventional electric semi-truck weighs around 19 tons.
The prototype is being built by Berkeley Coachworks, with the electric powertrain to be supplied by a major truck manufacturer whose name has not yet been disclosed. No details have been provided regarding the battery, range, or charging capacity. The prototype is scheduled to be completed by September 2027, after which tests are planned on a highway for autonomous vehicles in South Wales. Public roads could follow later.
Production could start by the end of 2027 at full speed, with initial deliveries scheduled for mid-2028. The vehicles are initially planned to be manufactured in the UK, with later production also taking place on the European mainland. The company sees well-defined logistics routes as the first area for deployment. In addition to higher transport capacity, autonomous operation is also intended to address the driver shortage.
Autonomous electric trucks are coming closer
Voltempo is not alone with its concept. The Swedish startup Einride has also developed an autonomous electric truck, now known as the Gen 2 Rigid Large, which has since been renamed eBot. However, its dimensions and weight are not known. The eBot is currently still a prototype, while Einride has primarily made its money by supplying conventional electric trucks to logistics companies. Recently, DAF and Einride also announced that they will jointly develop an autonomous electric truck for commercial use at SAE Level 4. Initial testing of the interfaces between Einride’s driving system and DAF’s electric truck platform is set to begin in 2026.