DB Schenker and Volta Trucks complete first on-road test phase of the full-electric Volta Zero

DB Schenker

DB Schenker and Volta Trucks have completed the first on-road test phase of the full-electric Volta Zero truck in Europe.

For the first time, a design verification prototype Volta Zero operated on roads and in real distribution environments in Paris.

In 2021, both companies announced their partnership and pre-ordering nearly 1,500 full-electric Volta Zero vehicles – the largest order for medium-duty electrified trucks in Europe. DB Schenker will use the full-electric 16-tonne Volta Zero in its European terminals to transport goods from distribution hubs to city centres and urban areas. 

Together, Volta Trucks and DB Schenker will explore the potential uses of the technology to expand operations. The rollout will begin at ten locations in five countries.

“Since the beginning of the partnership between DB Schenker and Volta Trucks, we have been in close contact and we continue to move forward with the development of the vehicle together,” says Cyrille Bonjean, Executive Vice President Land Transport at DB Schenker in Europe. “It’s great to see the results on the streets of Paris now. It all started with an idea: now it’s a reality and we look forward to adding the first pilot vehicles to the fleet in Europe at the beginning of 2023.”

Essa Al-Saleh, Chief Executive Officer of Volta Trucks, continued: “When we announced Europe’s largest order of full-electric trucks with DB Schenker, we also entered into a partnership to work together to decarbonise urban logistics. The first use of a full-electric Volta Zero in a real-world testing environment is a significant proof point of the depth of the collaboration. To see Volta Zero vehicles operating on the streets in Paris is exciting and is a great forerunner to us delivering significant volumes of customer trucks at scale in the near future.”

Source: DB Schenker