| Volvo Trucks / 26 Large EV Truck Charger | |
 
|
|
| 2024/06 | |
|
|
|
|
26 Large EV Truck Chargers Installed at 3 Service Centers
Volvo Trucks Korea announced that it has completed the installation of South Korea’s first dedicated large electric truck charging facilities at three directly operated service centers in Dongtan, Incheon, and Gimhae. The 350kW ultra-fast chargers installed at Volvo Trucks’ directly operated charging stations can charge the battery state of charge (SOC) of the FH Electric up to 80% within 90 minutes. This is because the FH Electric maintains a consistent charging speed of 250kW per hour up to 80% battery capacity. Volvo Trucks has also set phased goals for domestic charging infrastructure to accelerate the transition to electric trucks. Starting with the establishment of these charging facilities at directly operated service centers, phase two will begin in the second half of the year with the construction of charging infrastructure across Volvo’s 31 service networks nationwide. In phase three, the company is in discussions to form strategic alliances with charging service providers to install commercial vehicle charging facilities at key port facilities and logistics hubs — areas with high truck density — by modifying existing chargers dedicated to passenger vehicles. Finally, in phase four, Volvo aims to expand commercial vehicle charging infrastructure through active cooperation with the government and public institutions. Volvo Trucks was the first in the commercial vehicle industry to begin mass production of large electric trucks in 2019 and currently offers the widest range of electric truck models in the industry, with six in total. As of the end of 2023, the company held a 49% market share in the European market for electric trucks over 16 tons. The large electric truck, FH Electric, was named the 2024 International Truck of the Year (IToY 2024), proving its high performance. Volvo Trucks Korea introduced the FH Electric, the first large electric truck in Korea’s commercial vehicle industry, in March 2023. The company is currently preparing to deliver the FH Electric to domestic customers by Q3 2025. Kang-Seok Park, CEO of Volvo Trucks Korea, stated, “Sustainability is no longer a choice but a reality that cannot be delayed. The transition to electrification is not optional, but a demand of the times,” adding, “Volvo Trucks is striving to expand the adoption of electric trucks as zero-emission transportation solutions to promote sustainability in the trucking industry.” He also added, “Volvo Trucks Korea is committed to resolving customers’ biggest concern — charging infrastructure — when purchasing electric trucks and will continue efforts to accelerate the domestic adoption of large electric trucks. We look forward to continued partnerships with more companies to build charging infrastructure.” Meanwhile, as part of achieving Volvo Group’s sustainability goals, Volvo Trucks Korea has invested approximately 6 billion KRW to install solar power generation facilities at its Dongtan, Incheon, and Gimhae service centers. This transition enables 100% of the electricity used at these locations to come from green energy sources.
Hydrogen Trucks: Suitable for Long-Distance Driving in Areas with Limited Battery Charging Access Volvo Trucks, under its group-level sustainability vision, has set a target to replace 50% of all trucks sold with electric or carbon-neutral vehicles by 2030, and to fully transition all products to zero-emission models by 2040. By 2050, the company aims to achieve net-zero emissions across all processes in which Volvo Trucks is involved, in line with the Volvo Group’s sustainability and carbon neutrality goals. To this end, Volvo Trucks is developing a hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine truck, targeting commercialization by 2029. Road tests are scheduled to begin in 2026. Trucks powered by green hydrogen are expected to play a key role in helping Volvo Group achieve its net-zero goals and support customers in reaching their own decarbonization targets. Hydrogen-powered trucks, using green hydrogen instead of fossil fuels, present another alternative for decarbonizing transportation. They are particularly suited for long-haul operations in areas where charging infrastructure is limited or battery charging times are constrained. Volvo’s hydrogen trucks are currently undergoing internal vehicle testing. The hydrogen combustion engine trucks will complement Volvo’s existing range of alternatives — including battery-electric trucks, fuel cell electric trucks, and those powered by renewable fuels such as biogas and HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil). Jan Hjelmgren, Head of Product Management and Quality at Volvo Trucks, stated, “Hydrogen-powered trucks offer the same performance and reliability as traditional diesel trucks, while providing the additional benefit of very low CO₂ emissions,” adding, “They will play an important role in complementing electric trucks in the journey toward decarbonization.” He also said, “It is clear that multiple technologies are needed to decarbonize heavy-duty transport. As a global truck manufacturer, we must offer a variety of decarbonization solutions to support our customers. Customers will be able to choose the most suitable option depending on their transport needs, infrastructure availability, and green energy prices.” Volvo’s hydrogen trucks, equipped with combustion engines running on green hydrogen, use renewable hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) as an ignition fuel. Although a small amount of CO₂ is emitted during operation, these vehicles are classified as zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) under the new EU CO₂ emission standards. Volvo’s hydrogen trucks will also adopt High-Pressure Direct Injection (HPDI) technology, which enables compression ignition by injecting a small amount of ignition fuel at high pressure before hydrogen is added. This technology helps reduce fuel consumption, increase energy efficiency, and enhance engine output. Meanwhile, Volvo Group has signed an agreement with global automotive parts company(Westport Fuel Systems) to establish a joint venture using HPDI technology. This joint venture is scheduled to be officially launched in Q2 2024. <Copyright ⓒ Monthly Logistics Magazine (www.ulogistics.co.kr) All rights reserved> |
| 
|
