Volvo tests the FM Electric in Brazil

By Redação AutoIndústria | 6/2/23 | Translated by Jorge Meditsch

Volvo is on the way to offering the electric truck F lineup in Brazil. In partnership with hauling companies, the manufacturer is operating units of the heavy-duty FM Electric in real conditions in diverse regions.

The aim is to collect technical data and customers’ impressions in conditions typical of Brazilian cargo transport in urban and road environments.

“The reports have been very positive. Besides the total lack of emissions, the transport operators also verified a great energy efficiency, no noise, extremely low vibration and high comfort for the driver”, said in a not Wilson Lirmann, president of Volvo Group Latin America.

According to Volvo, the FM Electric is being evaluated in fixed routes, where the vehicles are loaded in plants and travel in distribution centers. “We will start our journey to transform heavy transport in Brazil through specific applications to gradually expand the technology to other segments”, explains Alan Holzmann, Volvo’s director of truck products’ strategy and planning.

Model promises a 300 km range

The FM Electric heavy-duty tractor truck version with 44-ton GCWR (Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating) has three motors and up to six battery packs totaling 540 kWh. The vehicle delivers 490 kW (660 cv) and has up to 300 km range. Depending on the number of batteries and charger power, recharging takes 1h30 to 8h.

Volvo wants to reduce by 50% its vehicles’ CO2 emissions by 2030 and achieve neutrality in 2040. The brand currently leads heavy electric truck sales in Europe and the United States, where it has already delivered five thousand units.