Prodrive, Volta Trucks develop electric truck for urban driving

Mention the name Prodrive and most people will think of motorsport together with all the advanced technology that goes with it. But as an automotive consultancy, the company is now applying its capabilities to an advanced pureelectric truck project that has an added design aspect: to keep vulnerable road users safer in crowded environments.

Working with Swedish start-up Volta Trucks, Prodrive is helping to engineer what promises to be a unique 16-tonne (17.6-ton) heavy goods vehicle (HGV). Prodrive has overall engineering responsibility for the vehicle and program delivery including cab, chassis and electrical architecture. The truck will incorporate a “street level” cabin placed ahead of the front axle, with the driving position much lower than normal and placed centrally, giving the driver a 220-degree field of vision. Passenger seating is behind the driver.