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Volvo receives its largest order for EV trucks ever

Credit: Volvo Trucks

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Volvo Trucks has signed a letter of intent to sell up to 1,000 electric trucks to Holcim, a building solution provider, marking the largest deal the Swedish automaker has signed to date.

Volvo will deliver the first 130 trucks this year and next, with the total number of deliveries reaching “up to 1,000” units, the company said.

Holcim will utilize the Volvo FH and FM all-electric trucks with the first 130 deliveries that will occur during Q4 2023 and throughout 2024. Volvo lists the FH Electric as an ideal vehicle for transport routes that “extend a little further, maybe from city to city.”

Meanwhile, the FM Electric is flexible for regional assignments and is recommended for things like high-capacity grocery deliveries, container transportation, and crane services.

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Volvo Group and Holcim have a strategic and wide-ranging partnership that has evidently extended into the use of all-electric trucks.

“Long-term collaboration and a strong commitment to really make a difference are essential for making big CO2 reductions a reality,” President and CEO of the Volvo Group, Martin Lundstedt, said. “I’m very proud of the partnership we have developed with Holcim, and the results we are achieving together.”

volvo trucks fh electric

Credit: Volvo Trucks

Replacing Volvo’s FH diesel trucks with FH Electric models using green electricity could save up to 50,000 tons of CO2 annually, making logistics in a commercial manner much more sustainable and eco-friendly.

Jan Jenisch, Chairman and CEO of Holcim, said the partnership with Volvo is crucial for making the company more sustainable and reducing environmental impact through logistics.

“Long-term collaboration and a strong commitment to really make a difference are essential for making big CO2 reductions a reality,” Jenisch said. “I’m very proud of the partnership we have developed with Holcim, and the results we are achieving together.”

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Volvo has received several large-scale orders for its all-electric trucks. Its VNR all-electric truck joined several fleets in Canada, even that of Mcdonald’s. DHL locked in a 44-unit order in May 2022, and Amazon announced that it would purchase 20 units from Volvo to use in its German delivery network.

I’d love to hear from you! If you have any comments, concerns, or questions, please email me at joey@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @KlenderJoey, or if you have news tips, you can email us at tips@teslarati.com.

Joey has been a journalist covering electric mobility at TESLARATI since August 2019. In his spare time, Joey is playing golf, watching MMA, or cheering on any of his favorite sports teams, including the Baltimore Ravens and Orioles, Miami Heat, Washington Capitals, and Penn State Nittany Lions. You can get in touch with joey at joey@teslarati.com. He is also on X @KlenderJoey. If you're looking for great Tesla accessories, check out shop.teslarati.com

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Tesla Semi lines up for $165M in California incentives ahead of mass production

The update was initially reported by The Los Angeles Times.

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Credit: @HinrichsZane/X

Tesla is reportedly positioned to receive roughly $165 million in California clean-truck incentives for its Semi.

The update was initially reported by The Los Angeles Times.

As per the Times, the Tesla Semi’s funding will come from California’s Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Incentive Project (HVIP), which was designed to accelerate the adoption of cleaner medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. Since its launch in 2009, the HVIP has distributed more than $1.6 billion to support zero-emission trucks and buses across the state.

In recent funding rounds, nearly 1,000 HVIP vouchers were provisionally reserved for the Tesla Semi, giving Tesla a far larger share of available funding than any other automaker. An analysis by the Times found that even after revisions to public data, Tesla still accounts for about $165 million in incentives. The next-largest recipient, Canadian bus manufacturer New Flyer, received roughly $68 million.

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This is quite unsurprising, however, considering that the Tesla Semi does not have a lot of competition in the zero-emissions trucking segment.

To qualify for HVIP funding, vehicles must be approved by the California Air Resources Board and listed in the program catalog, as noted in an electrive report. When the Tesla Semi voucher applications were submitted, public certification records only showed eligibility for the 2024 model year, with later model years not yet listed.

State officials have stated that certification details often involve confidential business information and that funding will only be paid once vehicles are fully approved and delivered. Still, the first-come, first-served nature of HVIP means large voucher reservations can effectively crowd out competing electric trucks. Incentive amounts for the Semi reportedly ranged from about $84,000 to as much as $351,000 per vehicle after data adjustments. 

Unveiled in 2017, the Tesla Semi has seen limited deliveries so far, though CEO Elon Musk has recently reiterated that the Class 8 all-electric truck will enter mass production this year.

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Tesla reveals major info about the Semi as it heads toward ‘mass production’

Some information, like trim levels and their specs were not revealed by Tesla, but now that the Semi is headed toward mass production this year, the company finally revealed those specifics.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla has revealed some major information about the all-electric Semi as it heads toward “mass production,” according to CEO Elon Musk.

The Semi has been working toward a wider production phase after several years of development, pilot programs, and the construction of a dedicated production facility that is specifically catered to the manufacturing of the vehicle.

However, some information, like trim levels and their specs were not revealed by Tesla, but now that the Semi is headed toward mass production this year, the company finally revealed those specifics.

Tesla Semi undergoes major redesign as dedicated factory preps for deliveries

Tesla plans to build a Standard Range and Long Range Trim level of the Semi, and while the range is noted in the company’s newly-released spec list, there is no indication of what battery size will be equipped by them. However, there is a notable weight difference between the two of roughly 3,000 lbs, and the Long Range configuration has a lightning-fast peak charging speed of 1.2 MW.

This information is not available for the Standard Range quite yet.

The spec list is as follows:

  • Standard Range:
    • 325 miles of range (at 82,000 lbs gross combination weight
    • Curb Weight: <20,000
    •  Energy Consumption: 1.7 kWh per mile
    • Powertrain: 3 independent motors on rear axles
    • Charging: Up to 60% of range in 30 minutes
    • Charge Type: MCS 3.2
    • Drive Power: Up to 800 kW
    • ePTO (Electric Power Take Off): Up to 25 kW
  • Long Range:
    • Range: 500 miles (at 82,000 lbs gross combination weight)
    • Curb Weight: 23,000 lbs
    • Energy Consumption: 1.7 kWh per mile
    • Powertrain: 3 independent motors on rear axles
    • Charging: Up to 60% of range in 30 minutes
    • Charge Type: MCS 3.2
    • Peak charging speed: 1.2MW (1,200kW)
    • Drive Power: Up to 800 kW
    • ePTO (Electric Power Take Off): Up to 25 kW

It is important to keep in mind that the Semi is currently spec’d for local runs, and Tesla has not yet released or developed a sleeper cabin that would be more suitable for longer trips, cross-country hauls, and overnight travel.

Tesla Semi sleeper section and large side storage teased in new video

Instead, the vehicle will be initially used for regional deliveries, as it has in the pilot programs for Pepsi Co. and Frito-Lay for the past several years.

It will enter mass production this year, Musk confirmed on X over the weekend.

Now that the company’s dedicated Semi production facility in Sparks, Nevada, is standing, the timeline seems much more realistic as the vehicle has had its mass manufacturing date adjusted on several occasions.

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Ferrari Luce EV: Italian supercar maker reveals interior and interface design

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Ferrari, the Italian supercar maker, has revealed the name, interior, and interface design of its first-ever electric vehicle project, the Luce, initiating a new chapter in the rich history of the company’s automotive books.

This is the first time Ferrari has revealed such intimate details regarding its introductory EV offering, which has been in the realm of possibility for several years.

As more companies continue to take on EV projects, and some recede from them, supercar companies like Ferrari and Lamborghini are preparing to offer electric powertrains, offering super-fast performance and a new era of speed and acceleration.

Luce – a New Chapter in Ferrari

The company said that the name Luce is “more than a name. It is a vision.” Instead of looking at its first EV offering as a means to enter a new era of design, engineering, and imagination. The company did not want to compromise any of its reputation, high standards, or performance with this new project. It sees it as simply a page turn, and not the closing of a book:

“This new naming strategy reflects how the Ferrari Luce marks a significant addition to the Prancing Horse’s line-up, embodying the seamless expression of tradition and innovation. With its cutting-edge technology, unique design, and best-in-class driving thrills, it unites Ferrari’s racing heritage, the timeless spirit of its sports cars, and the evolving reality of contemporary lifestyles. It testifies to Ferrari’s determination to go beyond expectations: to imagine the future, and to dare. Because leading means illuminating the path ahead – and Luce embodies that mindset.”

Ferrari Luce Design

Ferrari collaborated with LoveFrom, a creative collective founded by Sir Jony Ive and Marc Newson. The pair has been working with Ferrari for five years on the Luce design; everything from materials, ergonomics, interface, and user experience has been designed by the two entities.

The big focus with the interior was to offer “a first, tangible insight into the design philosophy…where innovation meets craftsmanship and cutting-edge design. The team focused on perfecting and refining every solution to its purest form — not to reinvent what already works, but to create a new, carefully considered expression of Ferrari.”

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Ferrari CEO compliments Tesla for shaking up the automotive industry

The company also said:

“Ultimately, the design of the Ferrari Luce’s interior is a synthesis of meticulous craftsmanship, respect for tradition, and thoughtful innovation. It offers a new choice for Ferrari enthusiasts – one that honours the past while embracing the future, and exemplifies the brand’s enduring commitment to quality, performance, and cultural significance.”

The appearance of the elements that make up the interior are both an ode to past designs, like the steering wheel, which is a reinterpretation of the iconic 1950s and 1960s wooden three-spoke Nardi wheel, and fresh, new designs, which aim to show the innovation Ferrari is adopting with this new project.

Interior Highlights

Steering Wheel

The Ferrari Luce is a shout-out to the Nardi wheel from the 1950s and 60s. It is constructed of 100% recycled aluminum, and the alloy was developed specifically for the vehicle to “ensure mechanical resistance and a superb surface quality for the anodisation process.”

It weighs 400 grams less than a standard Ferrari steering wheel:

Credit: Ferrari

It features two analogue control modules, ensuring both functionality and clarity, Ferrari said. The carmaker drew inspiration from Formula One single-seaters, and every button has been developed to provide “the most harmonious combination of mechanical and acoustic feedback based on more than 20 evaluation tests with Ferrari test drivers.”

Instrument Cluster and Displays

There are three displays in the Luce — a driver binnacle, control panel, and rear control panel, which have all been “meticulously designed for clarity and purpose.”

The binnacle moves with the steering wheel and is optimized for the driver’s view of the instrumentation and supporting driver performance.

Displays are crafted by Samsung and were specifically designed for the car, using a “world first – three large cutouts strategically reveal the information generated by a second display behind the top panel, creating a fascinating visual depth that captures the eye.”

Samsung Display engineers created an ultra-light, ultra-thin OLED panel for the vehicle.

Credit: Ferrari

Pricing is still what remains a mystery within the Luce project. Past reports have speculated that the price could be at least €500,000, or $535,000.

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