Volvo Trucks’ heavy-duty electric range has been named International Truck of the Year 2027, in a major recognition for battery-electric trucks moving into regional and longer-distance transport.
The award covers the Volvo FH Electric, FM Electric, FMX Electric and FH Aero Electric, with the latest generation offering a claimed driving range of up to 700 km.
The Swedish truck manufacturer says the updated electric range brings improvements in driving range, payload capacity and charging times, expanding the potential applications for battery-powered trucks beyond traditional urban distribution.
The trucks are designed for a range of operations, including distribution, construction, regional transport and longer-distance haulage.
The International Truck of the Year jury highlighted Volvo’s strategy of developing a broad electric truck portfolio rather than focusing on a single model or application.
Jury chairman Florian Engel said the range showed how battery-electric heavy-duty transport was developing from a solution for specific applications into a broader transport option.
Volvo Trucks president Roger Alm accepted the award at the IAA Transportation event in Hanover, Germany.
“We see a great demand for our new electric trucks, and the order book is almost full,” Alm said.
The latest award is Volvo Trucks’ eighth International Truck of the Year title, while it is the second time a Volvo electric truck has taken the honour. The FH Electric won the 2024 award.
500 million kilometres of electric trucking
Volvo began producing electric trucks in 2019 and says approximately 7,000 electric trucks have since accumulated a combined 500 million kilometres in operation worldwide.
Nearly 2,000 customers in more than 50 countries are currently operating Volvo electric trucks.
The company’s wider battery-electric portfolio now consists of eight models covering different transport applications.
What does a 700 km range mean for truckers?
The claimed 700 km range could make battery-electric trucks more practical for operations where trucks previously needed to return to base frequently for charging.
However, range alone does not determine whether an electric truck makes financial or operational sense.
For South African operators, factors such as charging infrastructure, payload, route profile, turnaround times, electricity costs and the availability of charging at depots and key transport corridors will remain critical.
The International Truck of the Year jury assesses trucks on factors including technological innovation, safety, driver comfort, energy efficiency, environmental impact and total cost of ownership.
For the trucking industry, Volvo’s latest award is another indication that electric heavy-duty trucks are steadily moving into applications once dominated almost exclusively by diesel.
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