VTNA Slates Production on Enhanced VNR Electric for Q2

Improvements in battery design have resulted in an up to 40% increase in storage capacity for each battery in Volvo's next-generation VNR Electric truck. (Volvo Trucks)

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Volvo Trucks North America announced production of the enhanced Volvo VNR Electric model will begin in the second quarter.

The truck features up to an 85% increase in range, faster charging, and even more configurations for heavy-duty transport.

“It is a testament to Volvo Trucks’ leadership that in a continuously evolving industry we are bringing the enhanced version of our VNR Electric to the market a year after sales of the VNR Electric first started,” VTNA President Peter Voorhoeve said in a release.

VTNA began taking customer orders for its first Volvo VNR Electric model in December 2020, with commercial production starting in the second quarter of 2021 at the company’s New River Valley manufacturing plant in Dublin, Va.

The enhanced Volvo VNR Electric’s true power lies in the improvements made in the battery — technology, design, management, and package offering, according to the Greensboro, N.C.-based company, which is a unit of Volvo Group.

Improvements in battery design have resulted in an up to 40% increase in storage capacity for each battery. A dedicated battery thermal management system was added to manage and maintain ideal environmental temperatures. VTNA also noted it introduced a new six-battery package option.

The enhanced Volvo VNR Electric also reduces the required charging time, as the 250kW charging capability provides an 80% charge in 90 minutes for the six-battery package and 60 minutes for the four-battery version. — Transport Topics