Volta Commercial Electric Truck To Be Guided By Unique No-Address App

When drivers get behind the wheel of the upcoming Volta Zero commercial electric truck they’ll be able to take advantage of an integrated navigation system that will not only make it easier for them to plan their stops but allow them to navigate their routes using a unique app based on dividing the world into tiny squares.

Volta Trucks, the Swedish company that will deliver the first Volta Zero to customers mid-year, said Tuesday the electric commercial truck will be equipped with the EV Range Assistant developed by HERE Technologies Inc.

Key features of EV Range Assistant include battery range prediction for trucks while they’re on the road and allows for route planning including multiple delivery stops, according to a release. Search, routing, real-time traffic and turn-by-turn voice guidance will be available both on- and offline.

HERE’s navigation technologies also gives drivers the added capability of using the what3words mobile application that provides a new spin on route navigation. What3words divides the entire world into three-meter squares, giving each square a unique three-word name, or what3words address.

The company claims its method is more precise than a street address allowing drivers to enter destinations as specific as building entrances or loading docks.

“HERE Technologies is another world-class partner for Volta Trucks, delivering the full features of embedded navigation but with the user experience of a mobile navigation application,” said Ian Collins, Chief Product Officer of Volta Trucks in a statement. “With HERE Navigation, we can provide innovative and differentiated experiences to our drivers while simplifying our supply chain – a key benefit supporting our accelerated route to market”.

“With our truck attributes and our EV range calculator, Volta Zero drivers can focus on what matters the most – the road ahead,” added Gino Ferru, General Manager EMEAR and Senior Vice President at HERE Technologies.

The combination of EV Range Assistant and what3words is aimed at lowering costs, improving scalability and delivering an In-Vehicle-Infotainment (IVI) system that can be remotely configured and monitored by customers as well as constantly updated, the company said.

This past November Volta Trucks announced the purchase of 1,470 Volta Zeros by German logistics company DB Schenker which followed U.K.-based refrigeration truck rental company Petit Forestier’s order of 1,000 Volta Zeros. To date Volta Trucks said it now has a total order bank of around 4,500 vehicles with a value of about 1 billion euros or about $1.13 billion.

The Volta Zero was first unveiled in September, 2020 and designed as a battery-electric commercial vehicle with safety as a prime focus. An example of that is the driver seating position. The absence of an internal combustion engine provides central driving position for the operator, with a much lower seat height than a conventional truck. This combination, plus a glass house-style cab design, gives the driver a wide 220-degrees of visibility, minimizing dangerous blind spots according to the company.

Designed mainly for deliveries in urban settings, the electric truck’s driving range is estimated at 95-125 miles, the company said, with the expectation use of the Volta Zero will eliminate 1.2 million tons of carbon dioxide by 2025.