Volvo Penta highlights electromobility at ACT Expo

Volvo Penta’s electric driveline. (Photo: Volvo Penta)

Volvo Penta is highlighting its flexible electromobility solution at the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo (ACT Expo), taking place through May 4th in Anaheim, Calif. Technologies on display are appearing under the theme “Road to Net Zero” and include recent Volvo Penta projects demonstrating the commitment Volvo Penta, along with other members of the Volvo Group such as Volvo Trucks, Mack Trucks and Volvo Construction Equipment, have made to this journey, the company noted.

Examples of this commitment include the launch of Gradall’s electric telescopic boom highway-speed excavator concept with Volvo Penta’s electric driveline at ConExpo-Con/Agg 2023 in March. Volvo Penta also recently announced the expansion of its power generation business into battery energy storage systems (BESS) along with decentralized and microgrid systems provider Utility Innovation Group (UIG), its first partner in the sector. Volvo Penta has subsequently acquired a minority stake in UIG.

TICO has secured the first orders for the Pro-Spotter Electric terminal tractor integrating the Volvo Penta driveline. (Photo: Volvo Penta)

Volvo Penta’s booth is positioned just yards away from TICO, one of the early adopters of its electric driveline back in March 2021. Now, after successful testing and evaluation at customer sites, TICO announced it has secured the first orders for the Pro-Spotter Electric terminal tractor as part of a pre-series run. Integrating the Volvo Penta driveline, along with its batteries and accessories, the EV truck will be the first emissions-free retail unit, Volvo Penta noted.

The company’s ability to leverage its powertrain and application experience, along with heavy-duty technologies from across the Volvo Group, is enhanced by working in close partnership with OEMs, Volvo Penta said, which results in tailored solutions that are optimally packaged and installed to meet the needs of individual OEMs. This collaborative approach was taken in Volvo Penta’s first industrial OEM electromobility partnership with Rosenbauer.

Rosenbauer’s ‘fire engine of the future’ featuring the Volvo Penta electric driveline. (Photo: Volvo Penta)

Customer testimonials about Rosenbauer’s “fire engine of the future” will be a part of ACT Expo’s Breakout: Municipal & Refuse Fleets at the Cutting Edge conference session taking place on Wednesday, May 3 from 1:00 pm - 2:15 pm (PT). With the first North American model, the RTX, delivered to Los Angeles in early 2022, LAFD will be discussing how the battery-powered fire truck has performed during its first year of operations in the field.

“In one form or another, our electric solution is now successfully operating, clearly demonstrating the incredible versatility of this superb technology,” said Fredrik Högberg, president of Volvo Penta North America. “But the real secret to our success in each of these projects has been the development of highly collaborative partnerships, where the pooling of specialist knowledge produces results way beyond what could be achieved via the traditional supplier/customer relationship. We are eager to see what new possibilities lie in store for this driveline.”