Volvo is the first truck manufacturer in the world to use fossil free steel in its trucks
Volvo, the world’s first truck manufacturer, is now introducing fossil-free steel in its trucks. The Swedish steel company SSAB is producing fossil-free steel using a completely new technology based on hydrogen. This results in a much lower climate impact than conventionally produced steel. The small-scale introduction of steel in Volvo’s heavy electric trucks will start in the third quarter of 2022.
Fossil free steel will be used in Volvo Truck’s frame rail
In the starting phase, fossil free steel will be used in the truck’s frame rails, which is the backbone of the truck, where all other main components are mounted. After that, as per the availability of fossil-free steel, it will also be used in other parts of the truck.
“We will increase the use of fossil-free materials in all our trucks to make them net-zero not only in operation – but also when it comes to the materials they are built of,” says Jessica Sandström, Senior Vice President Product Management, Volvo Trucks.
Volvo Group & SSAB collaboration on fossil-free steel
Volvo Group and SSAB have been collaborating on fossil-free steel since 2021. In August 2021, SSAB produced and delivered the world’s first steel made of sponge iron reduced with hydrogen, to Volvo Group. The first machine, a load carrier made of fossil-free steel, was showcased in October 2021. Fossil-free steel will be an important complement to the traditional and recycled steel used in Volvo’s trucks.
“The green transition of heavy transport is key for the world to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, not only by lowering tail-pipe emissions but also by including fossil-free steel as a material in the vehicles. We are proud to work together with a forerunner like Volvo Trucks and will gradually continue to build complete fossil-free value chains with our customers,” said Olavi Huhtala, Head of SSAB Europe.
90 % of a Volvo truck can be recycled
Volvo Group is committed to meet growing customer demand for green and sustainable solutions and achieve long-term goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions in the value chain by 2040. Volvo Trucks claims that today around 30 % of the material which used in a new Volvo truck come from recycled material and up to 90 % of the truck can be recycled at the end of its life.
Volvo Trucks is leading the market for heavy all-electric trucks in Europe, with a market share of 42% in 2021. Already in 2019, Volvo Trucks started serial production of electric trucks, as one of the very first truck brands in the world to do so. The company has delivered electric trucks to a wide range of customers in Europe, North America and Australia. This Swedish truck company is committed to Paris Agreement by lowering tail-pipe emission and using fossil-free steel as a material in all Volvo trucks to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions.
We are hopeful that Volvo Trucks India will soon launch fossil-free steel trucks in India, allowing our Indian customers to purchase their favourite Volvo trucks, such as the Volvo FM 420 and Volvo FMX 460, with completely new technology.