Brazil will test electric heavy trucks for the first time in urban areas

Volvo’s electric heavy trucks will travel across the country on an experimental basis starting this year. The initiative is part of an unprecedented study in Brazil, in conjunction with the Ministry of Transport, to decarbonize commercial vehicles in urban areas, metropolitan regions and in intercity transport over short and medium distances.

There will be 10 trucks and the testing phase should last from ten months to a year, according to the National Traffic Secretariat (Senatran), which will conduct the study.

The objective is to evaluate the entire operation, including how the roads and pavements look with the circulation and weight of these trucks, and also define a safe and efficient weight regulation per axle.

According to the newspaper The State of S. PauloSenatran will authorize an increase of two tons in the load capacity of the front axle, which gives a payload capacity similar to that of models with diesel engines for electric trucks.

Preliminary analyzes show results such as high energy efficiency, lack of noise, very low level of vibration and comfort for the driver, according to the study group.

The Ministry of Transport and Volvo made the partnership official last week, in Brasília. Transport companies ReiterLog and Ritmo Logística will be the first to use Volvo’s 100% electric heavy trucks in Brazil. In addition to them, there are other companies, government institutions and academic entities involved in the project.