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  • Hi there, and a warm welcome to this event.

  • I am really glad that you could join us today

  • on the road to zero emissions.

  • Right now, I am driving one of our 100% electrical trucks,

  • and it's fantastic.

  • This truck is so powerful and great to drive.

  • We have all the equipment and all the features here.

  • But there is one big difference.

  • We are transporting goods with zero emissions.

  • But before I go into the studio with my colleagues,

  • I have one very important mission.

  • I will deliver this truck to the logistics company DFDS.

  • They are like us, determined to cut the CO2 emissions

  • and move to electrical trucks already today.

  • So how can we speed up the shift and really take the leap?

  • What does it take from all of us to really go electric?

  • Well, that is exactly what we will talk about today, so stay tuned.

  • And now I am entering the Port of Gothenburg,

  • and here in front of me I can see a very happy customer.

  • -Hello, Niklas. -Hello, Roger.

  • -Great to see you. -The same.

  • Today is a big day.

  • It is a great honour and privilege for me to deliver, in person,

  • the Volvo FM Electric to you at DFDS.

  • Thank you, Roger. It's been really an honour.

  • We've been waiting for this moment for quite a while,

  • and this is such an important milestone for DFDS.

  • This is the first step for us, but there will be many more trucks to come,

  • and we will embark on our journey of electrical mobility.

  • So, Niklas, big congratulations and good luck with the new Volvo FM Electric.

  • Thank you, Roger.

  • Josefine, I am a little bit late, so stay tuned.

  • I'm coming soon into the studio.

  • We're looking forward to having you here, Roger.

  • Welcome to this broadcast from Gothenburg in Sweden.

  • We will dedicate this hour to the electrification of road transport,

  • covering all the crucial aspects

  • of the journey towards sustainable mobility.

  • My name is Josefine Volqvartz.

  • When not here, I'm a presenter and TV producer

  • covering solutions to a greener and more sustainable world.

  • Our ambition over this next hour

  • is to inspire you to take the leap towards a fossil-free future.

  • We all know that we need to reduce our CO2 footprint, and it's urgent,

  • Companies, organisations and countries have all set ambitious targets,

  • and now it's time for action.

  • As Roger put it, we can't wait.

  • It's time for a big transformation in our industry.

  • We will talk about how to electrify truck transport

  • and that the journey should start here and now.

  • In fact, much of the technology needed is already available.

  • Here with me is Jessica Sandström,

  • who is Head of Product Management of Volvo Trucks globally.

  • Welcome, Jessica. I hear you are a Volvo veteran.

  • Absolutely, and I've actually been working with electromobility for 15 years,

  • so this is a subject that I am truly passionate about.

  • And we are really approaching a historical shift.

  • This has not been seen since we shifted out the horses and the carriages

  • to trucks and buses.

  • So just look at these images from New York City.

  • Suddenly it can change swiftly,

  • and I think that is where we are heading

  • with the transport industry as well.

  • So a lot is happening right now.

  • How is Volvo Trucks approaching this drive towards fossil-free transport?

  • So we are already leading today,

  • and we will continue to lead by making huge investments in this area.

  • We are committed to the Paris Agreement,

  • and we take firm actions to really decarbonise the transport industry.

  • 7% of the global CO2 emissions come from the sector we operate in,

  • freight on road.

  • But this means that when we take action,

  • we will have a significant impact on the overall CO2 emissions.

  • So what you do really makes a difference.

  • How are you approaching this transition, and how quick do you think it will be?

  • So we have set targets that already by 2030,

  • 50% of our global sales should be electric,

  • and by 2040 at the latest, all new Volvo Trucks should be fossil-free.

  • So it's going to be quite a quick shift.

  • So a lot happening there. I also hear about battery recycling.

  • Is that something you are doing?

  • Absolutely. That's part of this shift.

  • We need to make sure that we are not only looking at the truck

  • but also how we can take care of the batteries

  • over the life cycle of the batteries.

  • First it will be in the truck,

  • and then it will have a second life outside the truck.

  • It could be as energy storage, for instance.

  • We are really looking into this circular economy way of thinking,

  • making sure that we utilise the battery in the best way in all its lives

  • and then we recycle it in the end.

  • So, there are several ways to lower CO2 from heavy transport.

  • Why are you so focused on the electric trucks?

  • Absolutely, there are different ways,

  • but we are convinced that most of the trucks will be electric,

  • because that is simply the most energy-efficient way

  • of transporting goods.

  • That said, we are a global company,

  • and we need to make sure that we can find solutions for all our customers,

  • and this means that there are segments

  • that will require other types of technologies.

  • So it could be really long distance, it could be very heavy trucks,

  • or trucks that simply do not have access to electric infrastructure.

  • For these types of operations,

  • we are, for instance, looking into fuel cell electric trucks.

  • What is motivating you to push so hard into this area

  • which is relatively uncharted?

  • I mean, first of all, it's simply the right thing to do.

  • We can play an important role

  • and really change the world into a more sustainable place.

  • On top of this, we are completely convinced

  • that this is good for our business.

  • Being early out, learning about how this technology works

  • but also how you optimise the system, we will get a competitive advantage.

  • And if I could add one more thing. It's about our employees,

  • a lot of our employees really value the fact

  • that we are not only having fancy slides but we also take firm actions.

  • It builds pride, and this is important to keep the talented people we have

  • but also to attract new bright minds,

  • because that is really what will help us to make this shift happen.

  • So it's basically a win for Volvo, it's a win for the environment,

  • it's a win for your employees, three wins.

  • Based on the capabilities of your electric trucks,

  • up to 50% of the on-road goods transport in Europe

  • could actually be electric already today,

  • but we are far from that figure.

  • What do you think is needed to accelerate the development?

  • If we start with the 50%,

  • it comes from a study that was done

  • looking at all the goods that travel in Europe,

  • how far do they really travel,

  • and it turned out that 50% of the goods actually travelled 300 kilometres or less,

  • and with the available technology,

  • it's possible to electrify those flows already now.

  • So I think it's about understanding the technology,

  • really making sure that we show that it's possible,

  • but also companies making the decision.

  • You need to decide that now is the time to act and really push into this area.

  • So what is it, do you think, that stops truck buyers from doing it right away?

  • There are lots of concerns when it comes to the electric range, charging,

  • but also economy, I would say.

  • So, what can you offer, what can Volvo offer,

  • for these people to change their minds?

  • So we will deep dive today, in this broadcast, into these different topics,

  • but if I could just mention a few things just to kick it off.

  • When it comes to the range,

  • with the electric trucks that will come next year,

  • we will have the possibility to do 300 kilometres with heavy loads,

  • so I think that takes away part of the range problems.

  • When it comes to charging, it's about starting in an easy way,

  • utilising your home base.

  • When the truck stands still overnight, then you utilise low power

  • and it's quite easy to install those types of chargers.

  • But what about the financial side?

  • I mean, it will be more expensive in the beginning to go electric.

  • That's a fact.

  • But I think it's important that we, first of all,

  • start to value fossil-free transports.

  • There must be a financial value put into that.

  • But on top of this, there is really a value in being early out.

  • The things I said were good for us at Volvo,

  • we are convinced that they work for our customers as well.

  • If you start early, if you build the competence

  • around how to utilise this new technology,

  • you will have business advantages

  • and be able to capture early new possibilities

  • that you might not have otherwise.

  • So it will really be an advantage to be a first mover at this stage.

  • Yes, absolutely. I think we notice that every day.

  • Thank you, Jessica. We'll talk more later.

  • Now we are going to look at the most crucial electromobility aspects,

  • starting with the commercial perspective

  • that Jessica mentioned as one of the main challenges.

  • To do this, we'll visit one of Sweden's most successful commercial enterprises.

  • We'll talk to the Swedish furniture giant IKEA,

  • and here we'll meet Volvo Trucks' experts

  • Ebba Bergbom Wallin and Johan Larsson.

  • Hello, everyone and welcome to IKEA.

  • This is definitely the time to be an early adopter,

  • to learn and to get a head start

  • in this transformation journey that is here to stay.

  • Yes, the key is to learn how electric transport assignments

  • influence operations when it comes to productivity and route planning

  • with charging requirements in mind.

  • There are of course new possibilities,

  • such as excellent working environments for drivers,

  • and extending delivery times to nights or early mornings,

  • and sharpening the brand image.

  • And there are items to consider, such as the price of diesel versus electricity,

  • battery costs going down,

  • diesel-free zones, diesel bans, and financial incentives.

  • Sustainability demands are also becoming demands from the transport buyers.

  • So the best way forward

  • is a transparent cooperation between three different parties,

  • us as the transport solution providers,

  • the transport companies, and the transport buyers.

  • So that's why we are here at IKEA today,

  • to meet with Angela Hultberg, their Head of Sustainable Mobility.

  • Angela has also taken the role as road transports lead at the upcoming COP26.

  • Hello, Angela. Thank you for having us here today.

  • Hi. Welcome to my living room.

  • Thanks. What's your view on cooperation?

  • Well, it's absolutely crucial, isn't it?

  • There is simply no way we can reach our targets without collaboration.

  • I think every player in this industry is just one player,

  • and we'll need cooperation between different companies,

  • different parts of the industry,

  • if we want to have any chance of transitioning

  • to sustainable transportation in the future.

  • We think that transport buyers should support

  • by putting a higher value on fossil-free transport.

  • -Do you agree? -I absolutely agree 100%.

  • I think it's in our best interest to do so,

  • and I think the role of transport buyers in the industry is also changing.

  • So if we want to meet our targets,

  • at IKEA the target would be 100% electric home deliveries by 2025,

  • which is only four and a half years away,

  • so we can feel the sense of urgency and the pressure,

  • and if we want to do that, of course, we have to be part of making that happen.

  • It's not enough to just say I want to buy sustainable transport services.

  • So, absolutely,

  • but we also have to send a signal to policymakers

  • to say that this is what we want also as the industry.

  • We want this to happen, and we will do our part,

  • but we need the policy to support that as well.

  • What are IKEA's commercial aspects on going electric?

  • Well, the commercial aspect is actually quite simple, isn't it?

  • If we cannot reach our customers' front doors, we don't have deliveries.

  • If we don't have deliveries, we don't have a service offer

  • and we don't have online sales, and then we go out of business.

  • So as we see local policymakers, mayors and cities,

  • starting to enforce zero-emission zones, low-emission zones, et cetera,

  • this is a way for us to secure access to our customers, which is of course crucial.

  • We also know there will be a cost of not transitioning

  • and not taking care of your Scope 3 emissions,

  • and that we need to address as quickly as possible.

  • And thirdly, but very important,

  • is also we see that our customers are becoming more and more aware,

  • and they will expect this from us.

  • Transport, especially in cities, urban transport, last mile,

  • is very visible to the many people and they don't like what they see.

  • They want to trust us as a company,

  • they want to know that we are a responsible company,

  • if they're going to spend their money here,

  • and that's also why we need to show them that we are

  • and that we do take this seriously,

  • or they will simply not shop with us any more.

  • What are you doing to make this transition as quick as possible?

  • There are loads of things we need to do.

  • I wish there was a one-bullet solution for this.

  • There's absolutely not. It would make my life easier.

  • But since our target is for 100% by 2025, and that is quite ambitious,

  • we are basically front runners, and as a front runner,

  • you are running straight into every obstacle there is, right?

  • And we've had to basically roll up our sleeves and address them as we go.

  • We've had to invest a lot in charging infrastructure, setting up what we need.

  • We've invested in electric platforms

  • to help secure vehicles for our transporters' sub-suppliers.

  • So we're doing everything we can to transition,

  • but I think the most important thing probably is to not wait,

  • not wait for perfect solutions

  • but rather take the best available option on the market,

  • deploy it and then work to make it better.

  • So we're at a point in time now where it's about scaling,

  • not about doing individual products but really getting this up to scale.

  • And so far, we can see the results.

  • 90% of our deliveries in China are already electric,

  • and China's a huge market for us.

  • We're fully electric in Amsterdam, in Paris.

  • We've deployed electric vehicles in more than 20 countries now,

  • including India, the US, Australia, so it's really all across the world.

  • And trying new and different solutions as well,

  • just to make it happen as quickly as we possibly can.

  • You have a rather unorthodox approach

  • to interacting with other players in the transport system.

  • Can you tell us about your actions?

  • I think the roles and responsibilities of everyone in this industry

  • are really changing.

  • I don't think we can do things the same way that we have been doing

  • for, what, 50 years, 100 years?

  • It's been a while.

  • And we can see our role as a purchaser is definitely changing.

  • We are now much, much deeper into supply chain,

  • if you will, than we've ever been,

  • working, like I said, with OEMs to develop vehicles,

  • buying leasing platforms

  • so we can buy the vehicles for our service providers to lease,

  • different digital platforms, EV sharing platforms,

  • charging infrastructure platforms, efficiency platforms, a lot of platforms,

  • and things like that.

  • So I think it's about finding the partners who want to go on this journey with you,

  • and then see what do I bring to the table,

  • what can you bring to the table, what do we need?

  • And I think where we see the best result

  • is really where we have gotten together with other players in the industry,

  • vehicle manufacturers, transporters,

  • local policymakers, charging infrastructure companies,

  • and really see, OK, what can you do, what can I do,

  • what can we do together, how do we make this happen quicker?

  • I really like that forward-leaning approach.

  • And, Angela, we also know that you are highly involved

  • in this upcoming COP26 climate conference.

  • What is your role and what do you hope to achieve?

  • So my role is road transport lead,

  • and what that means is basically I engage with non-state actors,

  • so businesses, organisations,

  • everyone who's not a government, basically, in road transportation,

  • and see what we can do together at COP.

  • If we want to have any chance of keeping global warming below 1.5 degrees,

  • we need to make some significant changes,

  • and we need to do it quite urgently in the next few years,

  • because, make no mistake, we are definitely not on track,

  • and so we need to change something quickly.

  • So I work, then, with companies such as Volvo

  • to say, OK, what can we deliver through COP?

  • What commitments do we actually need to make,

  • and, one step further, what actions do we actually need to take?

  • So that's basically the ask,

  • and I hope through COP we will see the leaders of the industry

  • stepping forward and really saying, OK, we can transition, we can do this,

  • we can bring these products to market and we can take these products away,

  • and we need governments and policy to be supporters of this transition.

  • Very good.

  • -So, thank you, Angela. -Thank you for having me.

  • We have Amazon with us today,

  • and they are another progressive giant with big electromobility plans.

  • We have Helder Velho, their Linehaul Director from Europe, with us.

  • So hello, Helder. Why is the CO2 issue important to Amazon?

  • We are committed and have invested in delivering sustainability

  • across all of the areas that we operate in.

  • It's a win-win situation for us.

  • It's good for us, it's good for our communities, it's good for our customers,

  • and it's good for the employees that work with us.

  • What role do big transport buyers have in leading the way?

  • There must be a demand for sustainable transports,

  • and the buyers of transport naturally play an important role.

  • At Amazon we've been working on sustainability for many years.

  • In 2019 we decided to use our size and scale to make a difference.

  • That's why we co-founded The Climate Pledge.

  • With this pledge we commit to becoming net zero carbon

  • across all of our businesses by 2040,

  • a decade ahead of the Paris Agreement's goal of 2050.

  • What is your approach to fossil-free transports?

  • We are electrifying our delivery fleets.

  • You probably know that Amazon's ordered 100,000 new electric delivery vehicles

  • that will be on the road by 2030.

  • Across Europe, our delivery fleet is already comprised

  • of thousands of low or zero-emission electric vans,

  • and we are using e-cargo bikes for deliveries in some urban centres.

  • How important are electric trucks in your strategy?

  • Well, we have a vision of operating a fully sustainable fleet

  • within our Amazon Freight Partner programme.

  • We are investing in a variety of solutions

  • to decarbonise our freight transportation network.

  • We are testing electric and hydrogen-powered trucks.

  • We also use gas-driven trucks

  • which are fuelled by renewable natural gas

  • sourced from landfills and dairy farms.

  • These initial investments allow us to test the performance

  • of different sustainable technologies

  • and determine which solution

  • could be most effectively scaled across our network.

  • What are the main challenges of going electric?

  • Unlike last mile delivery,

  • long-distance transport has had, so far, few low-carbon technologies available,

  • and I welcome Volvo Trucks' new electric product range.

  • There are as well investments into infrastructure required,

  • as there is a need for facilities available

  • that support charging of vehicles and so on.

  • Achieving net zero carbon emissions is an ambitious goal for us,

  • and we recognise that it's a difficult challenge

  • because we have a deep and large physical infrastructure.

  • It's not going to be easy, and we can't do it alone.

  • But we are also very optimistic,

  • and we want other companies to join us on this journey

  • to accelerate the pace and make this change happen.

  • We deliver more than 10 billion items a year,

  • and we believe that if we can meet the goals

  • of the Paris Agreement 10 years early,

  • then anyone can.

  • Thank you, Helder, and thank you, Angela, for lending us your living room.

  • Now let's go back to the studio.

  • Thank you so much, Johan and Ebba.

  • Jessica, it must be so inspiring for you to hear

  • how large transport buyers are really pushing for action,

  • wanting to do the right thing.

  • It's super inspiring, and it really shows that we are not the only ones

  • who think that it's time to act instead of sitting and waiting.

  • So it's really big players like IKEA, DFDS, Amazon,

  • that are showing the way.

  • And today I hope that we will inspire more companies to dare to take the leap

  • and really make the decision to go in this direction,

  • and together I'm convinced that we can really make this happen.

  • Exactly, Jessica, and as we see from the recent coverage by the BBC and CNN,

  • society is really interested in this.

  • People think it's fascinating to see

  • how Volvo Trucks are delivering beer across Manhattan.

  • It's fantastic to see the coverage we get with these type of new solutions.

  • It really goes to show that even these small leaps

  • seem like very big advances on a societal level.

  • Yes, I think that people really want to see these types of good showcases,

  • showing that there is a possibility to really make a difference.

  • Small leaps like this really are important for society.

  • A lot of you potential users are, of course, curious

  • about the trucks and services,

  • and how electromobility will influence your operations.

  • In the next step, we will visit the Manhattan Beer Distributors

  • on the North American East Coast

  • to hear their views on going electric.

  • After that, we'll take a closer look at the trucks sold here in Europe,

  • and we'll look at that together with our experts

  • Jonas Odermalm, Olga Bulankina and Rikard Unosson.

  • But first let's go to New York City.

  • Hello, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Peter Voorhoeve.

  • I am the President of Volvo Trucks North America.

  • And in North America today we are in New York,

  • more specifically in the Bronx at the premises of Manhattan Beer.

  • Manhattan Beer is a company that distributes beer,

  • as the name says it, in New York, in the five boroughs of New York.

  • They are the fourth largest beer distributor in the country.

  • They have a fleet of 400 trucks.

  • They are a sustainability pioneer.

  • They started already a long time ago with CNG trucks.

  • They have now in their fleet of 400 trucks over 150 trucks on CNG

  • and there are 50 more CNG trucks on their way.

  • Now Manhattan Beer has taken the decision to move on

  • in their sustainability challenge or in their sustainability strategy

  • and move to electric transport.

  • They've ordered five electric trucks, the first one being handed over today.

  • Manhattan Beer and the Bergson family, because this is a family operation,

  • they are known for their bold moves and their care for sustainability.

  • They play an exemplary role in New York and New York City,

  • and we are very proud as Volvo Trucks to be partnering with them,

  • together with the dealer, which is right around the corner here, Milea Trucks.

  • So with the dealer, with Manhattan Beer and Volvo Trucks North America,

  • we are making New York a cleaner city.

  • People enjoy their beer, a cold, fresh beer,

  • that has been delivered to them in a sustainable way.

  • My name is Mitchel Bergson,

  • and I'm the Chief Transformation Officer at Manhattan Beer Distributors.

  • We're motivated to lead in sustainable transport solutions for several reasons,

  • most importantly it's the right thing to do for our people,

  • for our business and for our communities.

  • It's in keeping with our values,

  • and it's really an extension of what we've done over the last two decades,

  • investing first in compressed natural gas technologies, CNG,

  • along with partners like Volvo,

  • and now transitioning and continuing that evolution with electric vehicles.

  • The benefits of being an early adopter of electric trucks are just that,

  • we're early, we get to get ahead of the game.

  • The sooner we start, the faster we can train our people

  • and generate positive change,

  • positive impacts for our community, for our business,

  • and we also can't really afford to wait at this point

  • to have systemic solutions to address climate change.

  • Some of the key enablers

  • for being able to use electric trucks efficiently in your fleet

  • the way you would any other tech piece of equipment

  • is pick your spots, deployed in the right places.

  • For us that means starting in New York City.

  • We have five facilities around metro New York.

  • Our outer facilities that cover the suburbs cover a lot more mileage.

  • We're not starting there with electric yet.

  • We're starting in the city where we have shorter routes, the power service we need,

  • where we can allocate the space for charging stations.

  • I think the point is there are many ways to dissect your business

  • and find the right place for the right technology.

  • The advice I'd give to other transport companies thinking about going electric

  • is to get started now.

  • There's no time to wait.

  • You can test, you can pilot, but get some electric trucks into your fleet.

  • I think electrification is coming,

  • it will be a part of the future, a part of the solution,

  • and there's no sense in resisting that now.

  • Get on board with the change.

  • From New York City to Gothenburg, Sweden, the home town of Volvo Trucks.

  • I'm here at our dealership just outside Gothenburg

  • with another truck from our battery electric vehicle range,

  • the Volvo FM Electric.

  • And just like the VNR in the US,

  • this truck is developed from the same platform

  • as its diesel and gas-powered counterparts,

  • and with this we get access

  • to one of the world's most versatile and flexible heavy-duty truck platforms,

  • from which we can offer not only one

  • but several different vehicle types and chassis configurations,

  • addressing many different transportation needs right from the start.

  • With this, hauliers will in a much easier way

  • be able to take the leap to electromobility

  • and gradually expand their fleet.

  • With this package comes our recently updated cab programme,

  • which offers what is probably one of the best working environments in the industry.

  • Here drivers that are used to our present truck will feel right at home,

  • and on top of that they will experience an even better driving environment,

  • with much lower noise levels and less vibrations.

  • And when asking a driver how it feels to drive an electric truck, he told me,

  • "Well, Jonas, imagine yourself working from home,

  • sitting in your kitchen with your kitchen fan on, all day long, day in and day out,

  • and then someone turns off the fan

  • and suddenly everything becomes quiet and peaceful.

  • That is what it feels like to drive an electric truck. Absolutely fantastic."

  • Volvo Trucks started our journey of electrification

  • with the Volvo FL and FE Electric, in production since 2019,

  • and often used in city distribution,

  • waste handling and lighter construction work.

  • With this year's European launch of another three heavy electric trucks,

  • the Volvo FH, FM, and FMX Electric,

  • we continue our journey

  • with products supporting longer ranges and heavier loads.

  • In Europe, sales have already started,

  • and production will begin the second half of 2022.

  • With determination, we continue our journey towards electrification,

  • offering products and services

  • designed to make the leap towards zero-emission transport

  • as easy as possible.

  • Talking about services, today I have my colleagues with me,

  • Olga Bulankina and Rikard Unosson, from this particular dealership,

  • who will give you all the facts about our service offer.

  • Over to you, Olga and Rikard.

  • Thank you, Jonas.

  • We talk to customers every day

  • about how we can make them feel comfortable going electric.

  • You're Head of Service Sales at this dealership.

  • So what input do you get?

  • Our customers are very interested in the products,

  • but they have many questions:

  • How can I be sure that the truck can handle my transport missions?

  • How is the range affected by route and weather conditions?

  • Where and when do I charge? Things like that.

  • I can understand they are trying to ensure

  • that their daily operation will work as smoothly as it does today.

  • Our services will support covering those issues,

  • so the electric truck owners will get to adapt the new technology faster

  • and with better total cost of ownership.

  • Is it just like for diesel and gas-powered trucks,

  • the starting point is the service contract?

  • Our service contract is the foundation for peace of mind.

  • Indeed, precise planning is key for a successful transport operation,

  • and here we will help our customers with range and route planning.

  • This service will ensure that the route

  • is the most efficient for the electric truck,

  • considering the range, energy and charging options on the way,

  • so that goods are delivered as promised.

  • But looking at the efficiency of the usage of the truck,

  • will you provide any special training for the drivers?

  • Yes, as the driver makes a big difference,

  • we will provide the drivers with onboard live coaching,

  • and to optimise energy usage,

  • we will complement that with an off-board energy report in Volvo Connect.

  • With these services, it will be easy to start operating an electric truck,

  • and for those who want to try first,

  • the short-term rental options will be available.

  • So, all in all, it's high time to start shifting to electric,

  • and we will support our customers all the way

  • and ensure that we choose the easiest and most efficient route to start with.

  • On that note, thank you, Rikard, and back to you in the studio.

  • Thank you so much, Jonas, Olga and Rikard.

  • I see that there are great opportunities for support here.

  • But I also hear that a lot of transport buyers are concerned

  • and also curious about charging.

  • Absolutely. This is an important topic and we've got them covered.

  • So we are not only providing the most suitable charging hardware,

  • we are also working with remote monitoring

  • to make sure that we utilise the truck charging time

  • in the best possible way to avoid downtime.

  • So there are some great ways to keep in mind here.

  • We will actually learn more about the art of charging in the next step.

  • Let's move back to DFDS, where we'll meet two of Volvo Trucks' charging experts,

  • Magnus Broback and Henrik Engdahl, talking more with Niklas Andersson

  • about how DFDS's new Volvo FM Electric will get its power.

  • The ferry and logistics company DFDS believes in electrification.

  • They are one of the first customers using electric trucks in commercial operations.

  • As a first step, they will use the new Volvo FM Electric

  • in delivering goods to the Volvo Trucks factories in Gothenburg.

  • Here with us we have

  • the Head of the Logistics Division at DFDS, Niklas Andersson.

  • -Welcome. -Thank you.

  • It is a pleasure to be here with you, and the magnificent FM Electric truck as well,

  • and our charging station here.

  • This is a great first step in our journey towards electrical mobility.

  • It's a milestone for us at DFDS.

  • Fantastic.

  • Electromobility requires some different challenges and also has opportunities.

  • In principle, you could say

  • that you should use standstill time as charging time.

  • -Do you agree, Niklas? -Totally agree.

  • Our studies say that we will use more the home depots

  • for charging in the evenings and nights to be able to charge these vehicles.

  • Compared to what we have with normal combustion engines,

  • where you today are spending time as well to fill up,

  • then you will spend this time to have more efficient driving hours for the driver.

  • This is my colleague, Henrik Engdahl. Do you recognise these observations?

  • Yes, indeed.

  • Other ways to protect the driver and vehicle's productivity

  • is actually to use the loading and unloading time,

  • which is anyway part of the normal operation.

  • Although the electric vehicles are a little bit more sensitive

  • to environmental variables,

  • and additionally to how much load you are pulling,

  • you can see a rather significant impact on the driver

  • and who is actually driving the vehicle.

  • We analyse all of these things

  • prior to putting the vehicle in the hands of our customers,

  • and at Volvo Trucks we always make sure

  • that we will in the end launch a very successful operation

  • for all our customers.

  • We advise our customers to use the vehicle in the best possible way

  • to be part of their logistics set-up.

  • For our European vehicles, we additionally provide a charger for overnight charging.

  • In the US we can provide the financial services necessary,

  • especially related to both vehicle and charging equipment,

  • and we will also support the customer in the installation of their chargers,

  • to make it as easy as possible to go electric already from tomorrow.

  • So, Niklas, how did you go about the charging situation for this vehicle?

  • That's of course something where we have analysed the flows,

  • we have looked at the specific pattern for this truck as well,

  • and looking at it, it will run approximately 120 kilometres per shift,

  • which enables us to do, as I mentioned before, the overnight charging.

  • When it comes to the different flows we're looking at in the next steps,

  • or for the next trucks coming,

  • then we actually need to look at, as you said as well,

  • whether we should top up with charging during resting hours,

  • or when you are loading, unloading,

  • so that's very specific for each and every flow.

  • What will you do to accelerate or make this transformation as quick as possible?

  • What we will do, together with you of course,

  • is to analyse the different flows we have.

  • We're pretty certain that the charging infrastructure

  • will be the biggest challenge that we have,

  • where we need to build, like in Gothenburg, or in the UK, Immingham,

  • where we have a lot of trucks.

  • We will also use that part to just analyse different flows,

  • how long can we drive, what is the battery capacity,

  • what's the ideal charging or distance for every truck?

  • We will use this, together with you, of course

  • to analyse even more what we can do,

  • where we need the important charging stations

  • throughout the geographies we are acting in today.

  • The DFDS case is one of the excellent examples

  • where we see that overnight charging may be sufficient

  • to provide the energy the vehicle needs.

  • In addition, with a range of around 300 kilometres,

  • this can actually secure the operation already from the start,

  • making it a rather easy start-off for electrification.

  • Another kind of operation that we are looking into is the line-haul operation.

  • This is also plannable and predictable

  • in such a way that it goes from point A to point B,

  • and thus we can find a way of utilising the vehicle to its maximum extent

  • and also put charging opportunities in place.

  • Together with one of our other customers, DHL Freight,

  • we are running a truck between two of their logistics centres in Sweden.

  • The truck in this case is leavingnköping

  • at 3:30 in the morning, so really early,

  • travels to Gothenburg, where it's unloaded.

  • After unloading, it goes for charging for around one and a half to two hours.

  • Then it's ready to take off and do a distribution round

  • within the region of Gothenburg.

  • Finalizing this, it will return back to the logistics centres, load up,

  • go to the charging station, and then it returns back tonköping again,

  • ready to take on its next mission.

  • With this kind of set-up, we are actually gaining

  • around 450 to 500 kilometres of driving within a single day.

  • And of course the more you drive with electric trucks,

  • the business case becomes better,

  • and that, I would say, is a perfect example of a predictable, repetitive flow

  • between two major transport nodes,

  • perfect for the interregional haul case.

  • If we go to the next step,

  • where we have demanding long-haul operations also across borders,

  • we need a charging network and a charging infrastructure along the highways as well,

  • and right now this is heavily powered by the European Union,

  • and in Volvo we also have initiatives

  • around this specific charging infrastructure.

  • Over to the studio.

  • Thank you so much, Magnus and Henrik.

  • That leads us perfectly into the next step, which is infrastructure.

  • And who better to make us wiser on infrastructure than you, Roger.

  • How was the delivery? You are now back.

  • It was very good, very positive, of course, and a very, very happy customer.

  • And the good thing is of course with this truck,

  • they will transport goods with zero emissions.

  • That is fantastic.

  • What is even more positive is that we've signed a deal now with DFDS

  • for 100 Volvo FM Electric that will be transporting goods

  • and driving the journey towards fossil-free transport.

  • DFDS are really taking the step,

  • and they are in the lead of this transformation,

  • and we hope that more customers will follow this journey as well.

  • That is really fantastic. Congratulations to Volvo and to DFDS.

  • That's amazing, 100 battery electric trucks now soon on the roads.

  • And we are seeing a trend going in that direction.

  • The automotive industry organisation ACEA actually predicts

  • that by 2025 there will be approximately 40,000 battery electric

  • both medium and heavyduty vehicles operating in Europe,

  • and five years later the figure is expected to rocket

  • to 270,000 electric trucks,

  • so there's a lot happening here.

  • So it really does highlight that we need

  • a purposeful development of the charging infrastructure,

  • especially in the long-haul segment where Volvo is strong, right?

  • Correct, and you are right,

  • the infrastructure of charging and the density has to be built out,

  • but we are also very confident that this will happen

  • because this transformation will go in this direction

  • and we need to drive towards the fossil-free transport solutions.

  • But of course investments have to be made into the infrastructure of charging,

  • politicians in various countries around the world need to make this move

  • and to really make it happen.

  • Other companies need to put money into this as well

  • so we get a good charging infrastructure.

  • What is good as well is that Volvo, the Volvo Group,

  • we are taking a big lead and making investments ourselves

  • and building out our own public infrastructure of charging solutions.

  • So, Jessica, that's absolutely amazing. A lot of things are happening.

  • What else do you think that Volvo is doing to promote this development?

  • We support with the most suitable charging hardware.

  • If you buy a truck in Europe, you will get a charger.

  • In the US, we can also include a charger

  • and the instalment in the financial solution.

  • So it's really easy to get going.

  • And on top of that, the infrastructure that Roger was talking about,

  • it's a collaboration with other big actors in our industry

  • to build a high-performing charging network across Europe.

  • So this means that we will have

  • at least 1700 high-performing green energy charging points across Europe

  • close to distribution centres and highways,

  • and this is just the beginning.

  • So what else is on the cards in terms of Volvo Energy, Roger?

  • We are doing a lot more into this transformation.

  • For sure the charging, as we talked about.

  • We will have charging in our own distribution network, for example.

  • All our dealers will have this.

  • We have also set up a new business area called Volvo Energy,

  • and they will work with end-of-life batteries,

  • from new batteries until their end of the life of the batteries,

  • and taking care of the whole value chain,

  • and to recycle the batteries as well.

  • And also working heavily with the charging infrastructure.

  • It's really good to have a business area

  • that is fully concentrated on these items.

  • There are actually also a lot of public initiatives

  • paving the way for rapid progress.

  • A lot of things are happening,

  • and it's so great these days when you open the news.

  • It's always something that is pointing in this direction, I think.

  • And for us, one important occasion is the upcoming COP26.

  • We will go there and we will push for the transformation to happen quicker.

  • We really need to make sure that we support

  • in this decarbonising of the transport industry.

  • Actually, the European Union is also pushing for fossil-free transport.

  • They want a fossil-free future

  • and they are using this carrot-and-stick approach.

  • Tell us a little bit about that, and is it working?

  • I think that the incentives are really encouraging.

  • This is what will increase the speed.

  • We see that it really pays off and it pushes the transport buyers

  • into taking the leap earlier rather than sitting and waiting.

  • So, absolutely, it pays off,

  • and on top of that we see the diesel bans will come

  • and there will be more business opportunities

  • for companies that have taken this step.

  • Germany of course has a very progressive approach for making this happen,

  • and we now have Kurt-Christoph von Knobelsdorff,

  • who's the Managing Director of the organisation called NOW,

  • which is working on the climate neutral initiatives

  • on behalf of the German government.

  • Welcome, Kurt-Christoph.

  • Germany has, as many other countries,

  • set ambitious goals for becoming climate neutral.

  • What's needed next?

  • I do think that we should now shift our attention

  • from formulating ambitious goals to implementing them

  • and to start implementing the necessary measures to achieve them.

  • What is needed to reach the climate change targets?

  • To reach the climate change targets, we have to electrify heavy-road transport,

  • which means we have to switch to alternative drivetrains,

  • and the German goal, the goal of the German government,

  • is that by 2030 one third of the mileage

  • covered by heavy-road freight transport vehicles

  • is either with an electric drivetrain, electric alternative drivetrain,

  • or based on electricity-based fuels.

  • What support do electric truck buyers and charging station builders get now?

  • We are funding 80%

  • of the additional expense for truck buyers,

  • the same funding applies for buyers of diesel trucks

  • that have been converted to an electric drivetrain,

  • and we also have 80% of subsidies

  • for refuelling and charging infrastructure.

  • So the purpose is to gain speed.

  • What do you think will be the result of these ambitious incentive initiatives?

  • I'm pretty confident that the measures we are about to take now

  • will lay the foundation for large parts of heavy-road transport

  • to be electric by 2030.

  • There is the pressing problem of climate change.

  • There's a strong political will to change things.

  • We have a huge amount of funding possibilities.

  • We are working on the regulatory framework.

  • So in the end this will work out

  • and I'm pretty sure that by 2030 we will be electric, by large.

  • That sounds promising. Thank you so much for being here with us, Kurt-Christoph.

  • Jessica, there are really some great things happening here, I must say.

  • You must be excited to see all of these advances in Germany.

  • Absolutely, I think it's fantastic news, and it will be so interesting to follow

  • how this will help the German market to develop.

  • So we really are seeing a green wave on the way.

  • Absolutely.

  • After looking at multiple aspects of electromobility, commercial,

  • products and services, charging and infrastructure,

  • we are now approaching the end of our broadcast.

  • Roger and Jessica, what do you want to leave our audience with?

  • How do we make this happen?

  • A big sense of urgency.

  • That is a key to make the transformation, and we need to act now.

  • The technology is there. The transformation is happening.

  • The charging and the infrastructure is being built out.

  • We have products at Volvo Trucks,

  • electrical products in customers' operations, operating as we speak.

  • We have the knowledge. We have the trucks.

  • We have the information. We can make it happen.

  • Jessica talked about the value of fossil-free transport,

  • and that is very right.

  • It will be more expensive in the future, and we need to recognise that,

  • because that is really key in the transformation.

  • So we are all part of this transformation.

  • Absolutely, and we need to have an action-oriented approach,

  • embracing the possibilities.

  • This will be business critical,

  • and the ones who have a sense of urgency will be the winners.

  • Just listen to what Amazon, IKEA,

  • Manhattan Beer, DFDS have been telling us today,

  • but also listen to what progressive countries like Germany

  • are doing to speed up the transformation.

  • We can make it happen.

  • There is a lot happening,

  • but we have also heard several times that we should act now.

  • But are things really moving, Roger?

  • Things are moving, but of course they don't move fast enough.

  • The market in Europe of electrical trucks is limited, the same in the United States.

  • We as Volvo Trucks hold a strong position in that segment,

  • with a market share over 40%,

  • but we need to scale up the volume a lot faster

  • and drive the electrification faster than we are doing today,

  • and we need to scale into this area.

  • I think one big recognition is the deal that we talked about before,

  • the 100 units, and that is the world's largest deal of electrical trucks.

  • So that is indeed a very good start. So are you hopeful for the future?

  • I am hopeful for the future,

  • and I think that we all should be hopeful for the future,

  • but, as we talked about today, we need to act now and we need to make it happen,

  • because we need to make this transformation.

  • It is so important that we do that, because we need to change ourselves,

  • we need to change our way of living, being and acting.

  • We need to leave the world that we are living in to the future generation

  • in a better way, in a better shape.

  • So important. What better message to finish on.

  • That's all from us here in Gothenburg.

  • Do reach out to Volvo Trucks if you want to find out more.

  • Thank you, Roger, thank you, Jessica,

  • thank you to all our guests and experts, and thank you for joining.

  • We hope you are ready for the big leap.

Hi there, and a warm welcome to this event.

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