The Middle East has witnessed the launch of the first-ever Volvo heavy-duty electric truck in the region.
During a spectacular evening at AlSerkal Avenue – Concrete earlier this week, the truck was revealed by FAMCO to a crowd of business leaders, media representatives, and business partners, including senior members of Unilever, the buyer of the first truck.
Describing the launch as a groundbreaking achievement, FAMCO said the truck launch represents a “significant stride towards reducing transportation-related emissions to zero, aligning with the UAE’s sustainable development strategy as the whole country prepares to host the COP28 in November 2023.
“The UAE, known for its forward-thinking approach, embraces this new era of transportation with FAMCO at the forefront as the year of suitability unravels with green solutions and sustainable inventions every day.”
It added that introducing the Volvo FH e-truck solidifies its position as pioneers in the market and a “commitment to sustainable solutions in transportation”.
The launch follows a series of other recent electric commercial vehicles announcements in the UAE as it prepares to host COP28, including Renault Trucks and Al Masaood’s unveiling of the E-Tech waste truck last month.
“FAMCO is part of the Al-Futtaim Automotive Group, and the group continues to introduce new products and services to keep the UAE moving towards building a more sustainable future of mobility and support the UAE’s Net-Zero 2050 strategic goals,” said Ramez Hamdan, managing director, FAMCO.
Unlike other vehicle ranges still in the testing or trial stages, Volvo Trucks claims it can offers full range of electric trucks that are tested and available for purchase, as the first truck was already sold to Unilever, the FMCG giant for their UAE operations.
“While we currently offer a wide range of hybrid and electric vehicles, the launch of the first-ever heavy-duty electric truck range by Volvo represents a huge leap into a greener future,” said Hamdan.
Through investing in Volvo’s electric trucks, business partners can, not only electrify their fleets but also, become pioneers in the green transportation movement, and eventually, a better future for us all, said FAMCO.
Speaking about being the truck’s first buyer, Ahmed Kadous, Unilever’s Head of Supply Chain MENA & Personal Care Category in the Middle East & Turkey, said: “We have committed to achieving net zero emissions throughout our value chain by 2039. Logistics will play a crucial role in achieving this ambition as it contributes up to 15% of our emissions.
“To achieve this, we want to push our business beyond its current limits to see how we can address the current environmental crisis. This is why we are pioneering the green transportation movement in the UAE, and this electric truck forms the second addition to our delivery fleet. Earlier in March we added the first Electric Van (EV) to our UAE delivery fleet, which was also the first in the UAE.”
Drivers’ Notes: The Volvo FH Heavy Duty Electric Truck Specifications
- Gross Combination Weight (GCW) of up to 44 tons
- Impressive range of up to 300 kilometers
- Rapid charging time of 2.5 hours (DC) / 9.5 hours (AC)
- Exceptional driveline performance of up to 490 kW / 666 hp
