FR8 Technology together with Volta Commercial Vehicles and FPW Axles, supported by a group of partners, have joined forces to develop the commercial vehicle industry’s first ultra-low floor electric commercial vehicle concept with integrated driveline and full rear-axle suspension – displayed for the first time at the Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham. The project is funded by The Department for Business and Trade, via the Advanced Propulsion Centre, supported by Innovate UK and delivered by the Niche Vehicle Network.
Almost all of today’s medium- and heavy-duty trucks have a loading bay optimised chassis height of about 1000 to 1200mm with tail lifts for loading/unloading in settings without loading bays. This leads to a couple of inefficiencies and safety concerns, especially in urban deliveries: On one side, tail lift operation is time-intensive – from needing to find spots with sufficient space for unfolding to lengthy lifting and lowering times – and accounts for up to 30% of time spent in a typical inner-city shift. On the other, about a third of truck operation accidents in the UK occurring during loading and unloading – for example collisions with pedestrians or cyclists, or slipping, falling goods and other incidents on and around the tail lift operation.
The consortium led by FR8 tackles these challenges by expanding the innovative design of Volta’s low-floor cabin, fully electric trucks to the loading floor. It delivers the first walk-in heavy-duty truck, independent from wheel size and just a step up at 360mm, while still providing full air-suspension to the rear axle. The solution is specifically designed customer use-cases of urban distribution and allows
One-step entry to cabin and body – access possible from rear or kerbside
Safe and fast loading/unloading of goods in complex and tight urban settings – for drivers, bicyclists, pedestrians, and all other traffic participants,
Ample space between wheelbox for Euro pallet manoeuvring
Customer interviews have shown significant excitement towards this innovation and engineering feat. The ultra-low floor electric heavy-duty truck shows a path to safer, smarter, and more sustainable future for urban freight transportation. The consortium believes the concept not only significantly improve efficiency and safety in loading and unloading in the day of a truck driver but also increase payload of up to 500kg or volumetrically by about 50%m³ – while potentially reducing overall product cost with a simpler body and ramp setup.
The vehicle displayed at the Destination Net Zero pavilion at Commercial Vehicle Show is a first concept demonstrator and planned to be developed into a dynamic, driveable demonstrator in the coming year to showcase and test in customer fleets under real-life conditions.
FR8 Technology is on a mission to accelerate the adoption of electric commercial vehicles through groundbreaking innovations such as the FR8 e-DRIVE. This patented driveline solution underpins an ultra-low floor load area for light, medium, and heavy commercial vehicles, providing greater efficiency, reduced costs, and increased earning potential for operators.
Volta Trucks was founded with the vision of delivering the safest, most driver- and urban- friendly electric vehicle to UK and European customers. It is the manufacturer of the Volta Zero, the first purpose-built fully electric 16/18-tonne commercial truck, designed specifically for inner city distribution, known for its low-entry cabin and outstanding direct vision, safety features, and delivery efficiency.
FPW Axles has a proud history of gear and axle manufacturing that can be traced back to 1910. With continued investment in design and manufacturing technologies, the company was awarded a prestigious Queen's Award for Enterprise in 2020. FPW Axles plays a pivotal role by producing the innovative FR8 e-DRIVE axle system. This cutting-edge component ensures the optimal performance and structural integrity of the ultra-low floor truck, further reinforcing the collaboration’s commitment to technological excellence.
“Bringing this concept to life is a huge milestone for the commercial vehicle industry. We've reimagined what a truck can be - putting safety, efficiency, and sustainability at the core of our design. Seeing our ultra-low floor electric truck on display at the Commercial Vehicle Show is just the beginning.” Tom Hughes, CEO, FR8 Technology.
