KUALA LUMPUR: Volvo Trucks Malaysia (Volvo Trucks) has debuted its fully electric heavy duty prime movers in Malaysia, the first such vehicle to be launched in the Southeast Asia region. 

Volvo Trucks also secured its first adopter in integrated logistics provider Swift Haulage Bhd. 

Volvo Trucks Malaysia managing director Anthony O’Connell said the transportation and logistics segments are critical areas to address in the race towards net zero carbon. 

Investment, Trade and Industry minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz commends Volvo Trucks’ leadership, commitment and investment in making the logistics industry more sustainable.

“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,”  he said.

“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 decarbonisation is challenging, we continue to share our expertise around sustainable energy adoption and addressing infrastructure challenges through our government and industry partnerships,” he said. 

The official launch marked the entry of the Volvo FM, FH, and FMX fully electric models.

Based on independent tests, the electric truck has the potential to use 50 per cent less energy compared to a Volvo FH diesel-powered engine under similar driving conditions, thus providing businesses with better fuel economy to cover the same distance.

Volvo Trucks noted that a multi-stakeholder approach is the key to building Malaysia’s electric ecosystem. 

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.

Through its 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.

Source: NST