Volta Trucks, the start-up manufacturer of the full-electric Volta Zero, has confirmed that Belux-based VPD Transport and Logistics will trial and purchase the Volta Zero as part of its drive towards decarbonising its distribution fleet. VPD Transport and Logistics already operates over 100 vehicles, from trucks to Cargo Bikes, but the Volta Zero is the first full- electric large commercial vehicle to enter its operations.
With over 50 years of experience, and more than 150 employees, VPD Transport and Logistics provides store pick-up and fulfilment services to household names such as IKEA, Media Markt, Whirlpool, Haier, EasyKit and Meubella. Its multi-hub network has operations in Ghent, Antwerp, Luik, Zellik, Zonhoven and Luxemburg.
Confirming the trial and purchase of Volta Zero vehicles, Dirk Van Peteghem, Chief Executive Officer of VPD Transport and Logistics, said;
“At VPD, we care a lot about the environment. On the one hand, we’ve already put a lot of effort into an electric fleet, from e- cargo bikes to e-scooters, for our last-mile deliveries in the heart of cities. Now, with Volta Trucks, we want to offer an ecologically responsible solution for our last-mile delivery of larger goods such as kitchens, furniture, etc which can’t be delivered with our e-cargo bikes.
At VPD, we want to be the frontrunner in the field of ecological last-mile deliveries, so we are really looking forward to the Volta Zero!”
Chief Executive Officer of Volta Trucks, Rob Fowler, continued;
“I’m delighted to welcome VPD Transport and Logistics to the trial of the Volta Zero, and for the purchase of a vehicle when we start production in 2022. Being mainly focussed on the distribution and delivery of large goods like furniture, VPD Transport and Logistics has a different use case from many of the trial customer’s we have previously announced. This means that the forthcoming trial will provide us with a yet more diverse data set from the operational use of the vehicle, that will feed into the ongoing development of the production-specification vehicle.”
Ends.
Editor’s notes.
About the Volta Zero.
The Volta Zero is the world’s first purpose-built full-electric 16-tonne vehicle designed for inner-city freight deliveries, reducing the environmental impact of freight deliveries in city centres. Designed from the ground up with an operating pure-electric range of 150 – 200 kms (95 – 125 miles), the Volta Zero will eliminate an estimated 180,000 tonnes of CO 2 by 2025.
Safety is also at the heart of Volta Trucks, with its ambition of being the safest large commercial vehicle manufacturer. The Volta Zero was designed for electric from the outset, which facilitates a step-change in vehicle and pedestrian safety. Thanks to the removal of the internal combustion engine, the operator of a Volta Zero sits in a central driving position, with a much lower seat height than a conventional truck. This combination, plus a glass house-style cab design, gives the driver a wide 220-degrees of visibility, minimising dangerous blind spots.
The first prototype Volta Zero was launched in September 2020, with the first pilot test vehicles due to start evaluation with customers in 2021 ahead of the start of series production in 2022.
About Volta Trucks.
Volta Trucks is a start-up full-electric goods vehicle manufacturer and services company. Volta Trucks has offices in the UK and Sweden and has partnered with a number of industry- leading design and engineering companies to develop the Zero, including Prodrive, Astheimer and Magtec.
For further information, please contact:
Duncan Forrester
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T: 00 44 7768 877877
Ade Thomas
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E: press@voltatrucks.com