Less than a month after the launch of the new Volta Zero, the first purpose-built full-electric large commercial vehicle, Volta Trucks has confirmed that it has taken the first orders for the vehicle that will start production in 2022.
Drinks Cubed, the London-based sustainable drinks brand, have signed a multi-million-pound deal for the supply of a fleet of Volta Zero vehicles into their distribution operations between 2022 and 2023. Drinks Cubed is the world’s first drinks company to use FSC certified paperboard and ASI certified aluminium, and EU sourced plant-based plastics in their packaging. Complementing the Drinks Cubed approach to innovation and sustainability, the Volta Zero is the first road vehicle to use a carbon-neutral, naturally grown flax fibre and biodegradable resin composite in the construction of its exterior body panels.
Commenting on the purchase of the Volta Zero vehicles, co-founder of Drinks Cubed, Sukhi Sindhu, said; “When we set up Drinks Cubed, we wanted to do things right from the get-go. We are incredibly passionate about the challenge’s humanity faces today but like the team at Volta Trucks, we weren’t content with just discussing the problems – we wanted to find the solutions. So, as well as looking at our carbon footprint when it came to our packaging, we also needed to address our distribution too. That is where the Volta Zero will play its part. Volta Trucks has taken a holistic approach to sustainability, looking further than just tailpipe emissions and into sustainable methods of manufacturing and components. With Volta Trucks, we have found a brand with shared sustainability values.”
The announcement of the first vehicle sales comes soon after the launch of the Volta Zero on 3 September. The online event has been witnessed by over 30,000 people to date and generated awareness and media coverage worldwide.
Chief Executive Officer of Volta Trucks, Rob Fowler, said; “The reception to the Volta Zero has been overwhelming – beyond even our most optimistic expectations. The positivity from media and potential customers further convinces us that there is a clear opportunity in the commercial vehicle market for a disruptor like Volta Trucks to create a vehicle from the ground up that’s not only full electric, but because of its innovative design, is both safer and more sustainable than the existing choice of trucks.
“Following the reveal, we have received enquiries for vehicles from all over the world. And I’m delighted that Drinks Cubed are the first purchaser of Volta Zero vehicles, to be delivered in 2022. And as a member of our Pioneer Programme too, they’ll be trialling pilot fleet vehicles in H1-2021 to understand how full-electric vehicles can integrate into their operations. They’ll also help us learn more about customer requirements so we can adapt and modify the final specification of customer vehicles that start production in 2022 so they are perfectly suited to our varying customer’s requirements.”