Volvo Trucks begins production of the FH Aero Electric and unveils the 80-ton truck
Volvo Trucks has begun mass production of the new FH Aero Electric. The first vehicles of this long-haul model, with a range of 700 km, are rolling off the assembly line in Tuve, Sweden, near Gothenburg. At the IAA Transportation show, the manufacturer is also displaying an electric 80-ton truck.
Volvo Trucks' electric 80-ton truck
Image: Volvo Trucks
With the new FH Aero Electric introduced in June, Volvo Trucks has attracted significant attention in the industry: it is one of the first electric trucks from Europe designed to achieve a range of 700 kilometers on a single battery charge. The model, along with its new electric axle, has been available for ordering since mid-June — and now mass production has also begun at Volvo Trucks’ factory in Tuve, Sweden, near Gothenburg.
Volvo Trucks emphasizes that with the new Volvo FH Aero Electric, as well as the next-generation Volvo FH Electric, Volvo FM Electric, and Volvo FMX Electric, companies can handle much more transportation tasks electrically than before.
"We turn groundbreaking technology into industrial reality. The start of mass production of our new electric trucks clearly demonstrates how consistently we are driving the transition toward a more sustainable freight transport sector," says Roger Alm, President of Volvo Trucks. "The response from our customers has been very positive, with great interest in the new vehicles. Thanks to longer ranges, high flexibility for various applications, and excellent driving performance, switching to electric mobility is easier than ever."
Volvo Trucks focuses on high net battery capacity
Features of the Volvo FH Aero Electric include an exceptionally large battery, with a particularly high usable capacity. Of the 780 kWh of installed battery capacity (in the form of eight battery packs, each at 97.5 kWh), 725 kWh are said to be usable. This is what makes possible its impressive range of 700 kilometers.
While competitor MAN displays the new generation of the MAN eTGX at IAA Transportation, which is claimed to achieve a range of up to 720 kilometers, this requires ideal conditions. The typical everyday range for the new eTGX is stated to be over 600 kilometers. It’s no surprise, as MAN offers only 644 kWh gross / 616 kWh net battery capacity, which is significantly less than that of the Volvo FH Aero Electric.
Electric 80-tonner makes its debut
In addition to announcing the start of production for the new FH Aero Electric, Volvo Trucks has also brought a new electric truck to its IAA Transportation showcase — one designed for total trailer weights of up to 80 tons. This is almost double the usual 42 tons, placing it in the category of heavy transport that requires approval in Germany.
Consequently, Volvo Trucks does not consider Germany a target market for this model either; instead, it plans to introduce the vehicle initially only in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. For total trailer weights of 64 tons, which are allowed in these countries, the range per battery charge can reach up to 450 kilometers. With total trailer weights of 74 or 76 tons, as permitted in Sweden and Finland, the range can go up to 420 kilometers.
"High total weights in road freight transport reduce both transportation costs and environmental impact. By adding electrification to these transports, we make a significant contribution to more sustainable freight movement," says Jan Hjelmgren, Senior Vice President Product Management at Volvo Trucks.
The 80-ton vehicles each consist of an electric truck with a fixed cab and a trailer. The launch of the Volvo FH Electric with fixed cab will occur gradually starting in early 2027. All Volvo FH cabs except the XXL cab are available for this model, offered in standard and Aero configurations.