In September this year, Volvo Trucks began series production of the 44 ton heavy-duty electric truck as the first global truck manufacturer to achieve this. Some electric trucks will also be the world’s first because they are made with fossil-free steel.
“Our journey to zero emissions includes making our vehicles fossil-free in operation over time completely replacing the materials in our trucks with fossil-free and recycled alternatives,” Volvo Trucks Senior Vice President of Product Management, Jessica Sandström.
Fossil-free steel, says Jessica, is produced by the Swedish steelmaker SSAB and made using a completely new technology with fossil-free electricity and hydrogen. The result is a much lower climate impact and an important step towards a zero emission value chain.
“Among our customers who will have fossil-free steel electric Volvo trucks are Amazon and DFDS through Simon Loos transportation company Unilever,” he said.
Amazon’s vice president of European Transport Services, Andreas Marschner, said the company is currently on its way to making all operations zero-emissions by 2040.
See also: Volvo CE starts customer deliveries of Volvo A30G, first mining truck made from fossil-free steel
“We need partners like Volvo to make this transition happen,” he added.
While EVP of DFDS Logistics Division, Niklas Andersson said, DFDS is committed to a green transition and to provide transportation and logistics solutions that are more environmentally friendly.
“Each step in the logistics green transition brings us closer to a carbon-free society and we are therefore pleased to know that some of our new electric trucks soon to be delivered are also manufactured with fossil-free steel,” said Niklas.
To note, the first steel to be produced with hydrogen was used in the electric truck chassis and where all other major components were installed. As the availability of fossil-free steel increases, steel will also be introduced in other truck parts.
Currently, about 30% of new Volvo truck material comes from recycled materials. In addition, up to 90% of trucks can be recycled at the end of their life. Fossil-free steel will be an important complement to the traditional steel and recycled steel used in Volvo trucks.
Volvo Trucks, the first in the world uses fossil-free steel in its electric trucks