Testing starts on all-electric Volta Zero
The development of a fully electric 16-tonne commercial vehicle has moved up a gear with the start of engineering evaluation and development testing of the first prototype Volta Zero.
The work is being carried at HORIBA MIRA in Nuneaton and is expected to yield a purpose-built commercial vehicle designed specifically for inner city logistics.
Dubbed ‘Volta Minus One’, as the forerunner to the production-specification Volta Zero, the prototype vehicle uses the proposed production specification chassis frame and drivetrain of the finished vehicle and will test all the electro- mechanical and thermal properties of the truck. This includes the high-voltage battery supplied by Proterra, and the compact rear axle, electric motor and transmission eAxle unit from Meritor.
In a statement, Stockholm-headquartered Volta Trucks said the unconventional bodywork of the prototype is designed to protect the development driver from the elements when the vehicle is moving at speed. The production vehicle will feature a cargo box design, but the prototype uses a flatbed to allow engineers to add different levels and locations of loads to test its weight carrying capacity.
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