Intermodal Silent Revolution – the first electric truck in Poland

For several years now, electric cars have been winning the trust of drivers on the Polish roads. The collaboration between Volvo Trucks and Gniotpol Trailers proves that this revolution will soon affect trucks too.

As a pioneer in the transport industry, Gniotpol Trailers is committed to improving its operations through the use of the cutting-edge technology. In the previous articles we have talked about how BDF systems and intermodal transport are performing in this role. Today we are going to focus on another solution, which will soon become established on the Polish roads. It is electric trucks – something that until recently remained in the realm of dreams, today is already a real and tangible path for the Polish transport.

Electric Motor – A Revolution Reinvented

Before we move on to electric-powered trucks, it is worth taking a look at electric vehicles in general. After all, they have already been with us for a very long time. In fact, the first electric car was developed in the 30’s… of he 19th century! It was designed and built by a Scottish businessman Robert Anderson – he was the first of many inventors to believe in the idea of an electric-powered mode of transport, long before the start of the internal combustion vehicle era.

The technology powering electric cars at the time was also constantly evolving. From the Volta cell, through the first lead-acid batteries, to DC electric motors, this sector has developed rapidly, heralding a bright future for a new mode of transport. In technical terms, the electric cars of that time performed exemplarily. The best of them were able to reach speeds that exceeded 100 kph – and we are still talking about the 19th century.

So, what stopped the electrical revolution of that time? It was an internal combustion engine. Constantly improved, it gradually displaced less flexible electrical solutions. It eventually gained the upper hand in the automotive technology market and maintains it to this day. However, the position of this solution is not a stronghold. Electric motors continued to be developed and, over the years, more and more vehicles came into use using their benefits – trams and trains, for example. At the beginning of the 21st century, cars have finally returned to this group.

Electric Trucks

And we must admit that they did that in style. Nearly over a decade, the electric car market has grown from 20,000 vehicles in use in 2010 to nearly 5 million. As a technological curiosity, this solution has become a widely accepted (and desirable) alternative to the vehicles using internal combustion engines.

But what about trucks? They are very different in design from standard passenger vehicles, and their greater requirements in terms of fuel consumption (resulting, for example, from their larger size and function) may pose a significant challenge when trying to implement electric solutions.

However, the above concerns have proved to be no significant challenge to the designers of our industry. Such trucks have not only been designed, but they are gaining more and more popularity. This is evidenced by the number of electric trucks being registered. This number increased from less than 2,000 in 2018 to nearly 7,000 in 2020. Electric motors are perfect for cars dedicated to urban freight distribution. However, the continuous development of this technology is gradually allowing it to be introduced for longer distances.

The Quiet Revolution by Volvo Trucks

One of the major players on the electric truck market is Volvo Trucks – a trusted client and partner of Gniotpol Trailers. This company is actively involved in promoting this solution in the market. Already, one of Volvo’s six currently available electric car models is becoming increasingly common on the streets of European countries. This innovative solution has also arrived in Polish this year.

As part of the Quiet Revolution campaign, Volvo Trucks introduced the first-ever electric truck with a BDF body on our home market in Poland. The three-axle Volvo FE Electric model with a total weight not exceeding 27 tonnes is powered by four batteries with a total capacity of 265 kWh. It allows the vehicle to reach a maximum range of 200 km – just enough for urban freight distribution, or for transport within or between factories.

Gniotpol Trailers Bodies for Electric Trucks

We too have played our part in the Volvo Trucks Silent Revolution. As an expert in the transport technology, Gniotpol Trailers designed and manufactured the first BDF body for an electric truck in Poland. It has been implemented with urban freight distribution in mind, the default operating environment for this vehicle. The body, which includes fittings for the BDF and a hydraulic loading lift, is mounted on a 3-axle electric chassis. It is complemented by a swap body in a van version with a payload of approximately 13,000 kg and a floor area for 19 euro-pallets.

For our company, involvement in projects such as Silent Revolution is undoubtedly a step towards further optimisation and improvement of transport processes in Poland. Our experience in the BDF sector and in intermodal transport has taught us that the best way to move forwards is to rely on new technical and technological solutions. We are sure that the cooperation of Gniotpol Trailers and Volvo Trucks on such an important project will contribute to changing the face of the Polish transport.

Agata Duliniec