Volvo Trucks and Renault, two leading manufacturers of heavy-duty vehicles, are joining forces to meet the growing demand for efficient and environmentally friendly commercial vehicles. This exciting collaboration, completely separate from Volvo Cars, aims to establish a new company focused on the development of an entirely new generation of fully electric vans. And they are not alone; they are accompanied by CMA CGM, the French container shipping giant based in Marseille.
What makes this collaboration so remarkable is that Volvo Trucks and Renault have signed several binding agreements to create a joint venture in which they will each invest 300 million euros over the next three years. CMA CGM will join them by investing 120 million euros through their energy fund, which is aimed at accelerating the decarbonization of the transportation and logistics sector. This means that there will be substantial resources available to develop these revolutionary vans.
These new electric vans will be built on a completely new platform specifically designed for fully electric light commercial vehicles. This platform will make it easy and cost-effective to offer various body style variants. Additionally, the concept of the "Software-Defined Vehicle" will be applied to the electronic architecture, allowing for the addition of new connected features to the vans. This will enable businesses to closely monitor their delivery activities and commercial performance. According to the two manufacturers, this could result in significant cost savings of up to 30% for logistics service providers. Furthermore, these connected services will ensure that the vehicles remain up to date throughout their lifespan, further enhancing their efficiency.
Regarding the design of the vans, Volvo Trucks and Renault aim to make them more compact to be perfectly suited for urban environments. At the same time, they need to be extremely versatile to provide tailored solutions to each customer. Moreover, several battery capacities will be available, supported by an advanced 800 V architecture, which is a first in the world of light commercial vehicles. This innovation will ensure fast battery charging, ensuring that the vans are always ready for action.
In summary, the collaboration between Volvo Trucks, Renault, and CMA CGM promises an exciting revolution in the realm of electric vans. With advanced technologies, cost savings, and environmentally friendly vehicles, this joint venture will undoubtedly become a key player in the evolution of the transportation sector. We look forward to the launch of these advanced electric vans and the positive impact they will have on the future of urban mobility and logistics.
