Volvo introduces its first ever electric-only truck – optimised for cleaner and safer city transport
1 February 20243 min read
Offering capacity for heavy loads and providing excellent visibility, the new truck is optimised for safe and efficient driving in urban areas.Volvo Trucks has launched its first-ever model developed only with electric drive – the new Volvo FM Low Entry.As more cities aim to reduce their emission levels, demand is rapidly rising for zero-exhaust emission trucks that can meet these new customer requirements. Volvo Trucks’ latest addition to its electric truck program is a heavy-duty truck specifically developed to handle a wide variety of transport assignments in cities, such as waste management, distribution and construction.
Roger Alm, President of Volvo Trucks, says: “This zero tailpipe emission truck is a great addition to our electric range, perfectly suited for working in city centres and designed with the driver in mind. It’s powerful, yet smooth to drive and easy to manoeuvre.
“The new Volvo FM Low Entry is perfectly in line with our ambitions to expand our electric offer, enabling even more customers to reduce their carbon emissions.”
The new truck’s low driving position offers the driver excellent visibility and control of their surroundings. As a result, the FM Low Entry has been awarded a five-star Direct Vision Standard rating by Transport for London’s incoming regulations, due to come into effect for heavy duty vehicles in the fourth quarter of 2024*.
Based on Volvo’s well-known FM model, the spacious cab has been lowered and moved forward, and the low instep and flat floor makes it easy to enter and exit the truck. These design features create an ergonomic, comfortable and efficient working environment for drivers in busy city locations.
The new FM Low Entry will initially be sold in Europe, Turkey, Australia and South Korea, with sales starting in the first quarter of 2024, and production starting in the second quarter of 2024.
With this new all-electric city truck, Volvo now has a total of six electric models in its range. In 2019 Volvo Trucks became the first global manufacturer to start series production of heavy electric trucks, and the company is aiming for 50 per cent of global sales of new Volvo trucks to be electric by 2030.
Key Volvo FM Low Entry features:
The standard specification fulfils Transport for London’s five-star Direct Vision Standard requirements.
The truck is equipped with Volvo Dynamic Steering system for effortless steering and reduced vibrations.
Three seat options are available, with customers able to opt for zero, one or three passenger seats. With the latter option, the three passenger seats are placed at the back of the cab not in the view of the driver to minimise blind spots and contribute to excellent visibility.
The many ergonomic features include a low instep, flat floor and well-positioned grab handles for easy and safe exit of the cab.
The truck is available with Volvo’s new advanced Camera Monitoring System.
It’s available in two heights: Sleeper cab (1,575 mm) and Extended/High sleeper (1,945 mm).
