The exterior of this electric truck is made of natural materials.
While electric vehicles are the greener option when compared to the fossil fueled alternatives, wouldn't it be great if more of the materials used in construction were also eco-friendly? Well, Volta Trucks, reckons it has a solution.
The EV manufacturer is creating an all-electric truck that will include body panels made from sustainable natural composites, providing an even greener option for delivery companies.
Volta's concept truck design is already turning heads, as the driver’s seat is centrally located and the electric drive train allows the cabin to be positioned lower to the ground, while large windows front and side provide exceptional visibility. But the truck's real party trick is in the the construction of the exterior paneling.
This material was developed in collaboration with the European Space Agency and consists of flax fibers mixed with biodegradable resins, resulting in an entirely natural composite claimed to be carbon neutral over its life-cycle. Volta says this material has already found its way into vehicles used in competitive motor racing, but this is the first time it has been worked into a vehicle destined for public roads.
It also promises a number of benefits over carbon fiber panels or other lightweight solutions, with Volta claiming it is up to three times better at vibration damping and will bend and snap under the impact, rather than shatter into sharp pieces that pose a risk of injury.
Though it only has renders of the Volta Zero to show, for now, the company says the first prototype is under construction and will be shown off later this year. It plans to roll out the first test vehicles in the first quarter of 2021.