Volvo Trucks has partnered with Swarco Smart Charging and Clarke EV to install charging infrastructure at 27 of its dealerships in the UK, as part of an investment to support the move to an electric courtesy car fleet.
Clarke EV is fitting 180 Swarco charge points, including a mix of AC charging posts and DC charging stations, at the manufacturer’s Volvo Truck and Bus Centre North & Scotland and Volvo Truck and Bus Centre South & East dealer locations.
The work is expected to be completed by June 2022.
Once installed, customers booking a courtesy car while their truck is being serviced will be handed a Renault Zoe electric car, with 130 due to enter service over the coming months.
Volvo Trucks, which began serial production of electric trucks in 2019, plans to transition half of all sales to electric products by 2030.
Its range now includes five electric truck models in the UK and Ireland – the Volvo FH, FM, FMX, FE and FL Electric.
John Twitchen, Group Truck Purchasing Manager – Indirect Products & Services at Volvo Group, who led the project with Andy Mason, Regional Operations Manager, said: “By working closely with Swarco Smart Charging and Clarke EV, we have been able to select infrastructure and a software back-office package which will future proof our network and allow us to charge more than just cars.
“Initially, the focus is on ensuring our courtesy car fleet is 100% electric by June 2022; but the next stage will be looking at electrifying our van fleet too.”
