Volvo Trucks delivers first heavy electric truck in Africa to Moroccan customer

Staff Report,

23 Mar 2023

Refuse collection company Arma to save 30t of CO2 every year by replacing diesel truck with FE Electric model, first heavy battery-electric truck in commercial operation in Africa

Volvo Trucks has delivered its first heavy electric truck to a customer in Morocco – a refuse collection company named Arm in the city of Rabat, who will be the fist to deploy a heavy battery-electric truck into commercial operation in Africa.

The Swedish truck giant said that with the deployment of heavy electric trucks now spreading across the world, with Europe and the US among the leaders, the shift to more sustainable transport is also kicking off in other parts of the world, such as in Africa.

Martin Nilsson, managing director, Volvo Trucks Morocco, said: “This is a proud moment when we take the first step to more sustainable, electric transport in Morocco and Africa together with our customer Arma and the city of Rabat.

“This clearly shows that zero-emissions trucks have a role to play in many parts of the world. Volvo is the first global brand with heavy electric trucks in commercial operation in Africa. We have the broadest electric truck line up in the industry, which makes it possible to electrify a large part of heavy transports already today.”

The series-produced, zero-exhaust emission truck will be used for collecting waste by Arma in Rabat. By replacing the existing Volvo FE diesel truck with a Volvo FE electric on a typical route, approximately 30t of CO2 could be saved every year, said Volvo.

The Volvo FE Electric is one of six all-electric Volvo truck models already in serial production. Volvo Trucks said its global target is that in 2030, 50 per cent of all new trucks it sells will be electric.

Youssef Ahizoune, CEO of Arma Group, said: “We are proud to be the first company in the waste management sector in Morocco and in Africa to have chosen to invest in sustainable mobility in cooperation with Volvo Trucks. By taking a step towards the electrification of our truck fleet, Arma is reducing its carbon footprint, showing one more time our commitment to the environment. Our intentions are clear: we will continue investing in innovations that help reduce emissions and benefit the environment while supporting our customers in meeting their own sustainability goals.”

Morocco has ambitious climate goals, based on large investments in renewable energy. The country is home to the world’s biggest concentrated solar power facility, Noor Quarzazate, located 200km southeast of Marrakech.