Volvo Trucks Malaysia Launches Electric Prime Mover Range; Swift Haulage Is First EV Customer

Volvo Trucks Malaysia just launched the fully electric versions of its prime mover range i.e. FH, FM and FMX, making it the first to launch heavy duty electric trucks in Southeast Asia. At the same time, it also announced that 2 electric FM prime movers will be delivered to Swift Haulage Berhad. Swift Haulage had agreed to purchase Volvo electric trucks in August 2022, putting itself in the first adopters club as it transitions to sustainable mobility and a carbon reduction goal.

“Sustainability is and has always been a top priority for Swift. I am proud to announce that Swift will be the first haulage company in Malaysia to acquire and incorporate electric prime movers into our fleet. We believe this technology will revolutionize the industry, and we are excited to lead the way towards a brighter, more efficient, and greener future. Looking forward, we are committed to convert the majority of our fleet to EVs by 2030,” said Swift Haulage Berhad Group Chief Executive Officer, Loo Yong Hui. Its electric trucks will serve an urban route, mainly between the port and warehouse facilities.

Swift is an integrated logistics solutions provider with presence in Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore. It owns a fleet of about 1,500 prime movers, 5,300 container trailers and 1000 box / curtain-sider trailers, 70 trucks and 42 CNG tankers. Its warehousing facilities consist of about 1.3 million sq. ft. (owned and leased) storage capacity and container depots with a total capacity of 28,500 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit).

“Sustainability is our reality and the transition to electricity is not a matter of choice but a demand of the times. Our leadership in electromobility demonstrates Volvo Trucks’ commitment to people and safety as well as carbon reduction in terms of environmental protection,” commented Volvo Trucks International Vice President, Truck Sales and Marketing, Johan Selvėn.

According to Volvo Trucks, emissions from one heavy-duty truck is equivalent to emissions from up to 47 passenger vehicles. Thus the comparative analysis indicates a greater need for stakeholders at the policy level through to the operational level, to design an electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem that is conducive and attractive to players in the transportation and logistics segment in order to step up the effort to reduce carbon emissions.

“The transportation and logistics segments are critical areas to address in the race towards net zero carbon. We are thrilled to introduce the technology behind our fully electric prime movers which supports low climate impact, enhances safety for road users and creates a better working environment for drivers. While the road to decarbonization is challenging, we continue to share our expertise around sustainable energy adoption and addressing infrastructure challenges through our government and industry partnerships,” said Volvo Trucks Malaysia Managing Director, Anthony O’Connell.

Volvo Trucks believes that a multi-stakeholder approach is necessary to build an electric vehicle ecosystem in Malaysia. In this spirit, the Swedish truck maker is working closely with government agencies, energy providers and partners such as the Malaysian Green Technology And Climate Change (MGTC) to help address infrastructure challenges. This also includes collaborating with highway concessionaire, PLUS Expressways Berhad, to provide technical knowledge for commercial vehicle charging infrastructure.

Through the collaboration with MGTC, Volvo Trucks will be registered under the MyHijau directory, a government initiative to promote the sourcing and purchasing of green products and services by various industry players in Malaysia. Volvo Electric Trucks is also set to receive the MyHIJAU mark of recognition for green products in accordance with safety, quality and performance standards by MGTC. With the MyHijau mark, companies which purchase Volvo electric trucks are eligible to benefit from green technology tax incentive programmes such as the Green Investment Technology Allowance (GITA).

To assist customers establish a sustainable fleet, Volvo Trucks will provide a total cost of ownership analysis to potential customers based on customisable logistic needs. It will work closely with customers to develop tailored ownership solutions such as flexible financing options by financial institutions. Efforts will also include creating partnerships with companies in the renewable energy sector to provide sustainable charging solutions. Volvo Trucks will also provide comprehensive training and support to educate truck operators, drivers, and maintenance personnel on EV technology, maintenance procedures, and best practices.

The Malaysian government had committed to facilitate the installation of more EV charging stations by 2025, and Volvo Trucks hopes for greater consideration of the transportation and logistics industry which serves as the economic lifeline of the nation.

“The Government is aware that the adoption for commercial EVs such as trucks and buses is still low in Malaysia. As such, we commend Volvo Trucks’ leadership, commitment and investment in making the logistics industry more sustainable, particularly in supporting our New Industrial Master Plan 2030’s net zero agenda. Volvo Trucks’ technology-sharing will also help advance the collective knowledge on commercial EV’s in Malaysia, paving the way for a more vibrant EV industry that could tap into ASEAN’s US$2.7 billion EV potential by 2027, enhance our domestic SME EV supply chain and provide higher-paying jobs for Malaysians,” said YB Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry.

“On this front, we thank Volvo Trucks for your continuous efforts to help the segment in its
transition to adopt greener commercial vehicle fleets,” he added.

The Volvo electric prime movers are designed with multiple axle configurations to suit different applications and segments. Depending on configuration, power comes from either a 2- or 3-motor set-up providing either 330 kW or 490 kW, sent via a 12-speed I-Shift transmission. This is also mirrored by the variable battery configurations available, with a total energy storage of up to ~540 kWh. Based on current battery technology, the trucks have an estimated travel range of up to 300 km, which suits a large section of Volvo Trucks’ customers based on their daily usage. Volvo Trucks is also offering 8 years of extensive service contract for the maintenance, repair and warranty of the batteries.

The batteries can be charged either via an alternating current (AC) 43 kW on-board charger (estimated 10 hours from 0% to full) or via a direct current (DC) charger (max 250 kW) which reduces charging time to just under 2 hours. Based on independent tests, the electric truck has the potential to use 50% less energy compared to a diesel-powered Volvo FH under similar driving conditions. Thus, truck owners will see energy savings in this regard.

Another advantage of an electric truck is the significant reduction in mechanical noise and vibrations. This not only contributes to a quieter urban environment but is beneficial to the truck driver who typically spends long hours in the truck. The quietness of an electric truck will also allow it to be used early in the morning, or late at night, with minimal noise impact in densely populated areas. Furthermore, the absence of exhaust emissions will help reduce air pollution in urban areas.