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Two words appear in my head every time I drive lowercase test units along with large commercial trucks – not good. Not good because, well, these haulers have a very nasty reputation for being run-down crash machines in the Philippines, and if anything untoward happened when I tried to pass, I’m pretty much done for.
Safe and reliable cargo carriers. It’s all the smallest car drivers can ask for. Well, maybe not all. A bigger car may also be on the wish list, but you get our point: this is the dream.
That dream is much closer to reality in some places than others. And in Europe, it comes in the form of vehicles like the Zero volta.
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“Safety is at the heart of the Volta brand for one simple reason. In London, for example, 23% of pedestrian deaths and 58% of cyclist deaths involve a heavy vehicle. [heavy goods vehicle]however, large trucks only account for 4% of highway miles. This is clearly unacceptable and must change. ” Carl-Magnus Norden, the founder of Volta Trucks, said in a statement.
“The Volta Zero completely reinvents the commercial vehicle, ensuring that it can safely operate with all road users and become a friend of the zero-emission city.”
What makes this so special? Well, in addition to the environmental benefits of running entirely on electricity and being nearly carbon neutral to produce, the Volta Zero puts drivers in an optimized position for road safety. Those behind the wheel of the truck sit much closer to the ground compared to conventional commercial vehicles, giving them a line of sight of around 1.8 meters. In addition, they have a practically panoramic view of their surroundings courtesy of large windows. You can thank the absence of a conventional combustion engine for these design features.
Then there is the technology. The Volta Zero’s advanced driver assistance systems include Active Steering Systems, Traffic Sign Assist and Reverse Assist with Reversing Camera, Lane Departure Assist and Lane Departure Warning. This means that the Zero offers two lines of defense against accidents: good visibility for the driver and safety nets in case the person behind the wheel makes a mistake.
“We had three main priorities for the cabin design. We wanted it to be the best in class in terms of safety, ease and efficiency of entry and exit, and the best environment for the driver of any truck on the market, ”he said Carsten Astheimer, Lead Designer for Volta Zero. “With the Volta Zero, I can comfortably say that we have achieved that goal.”
Testing of the Volta Zero on public roads will begin in the first half of 2021, and the official start of production is scheduled for a year later. Sustainable, efficient and, most importantly, safe. Again, this is the dream, do you think we will ever be able to live it?
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