Volvo Connect is Volvo Trucks’ fleet management system and a platform for digital services, such as Volvo Open Charge.
For all fleet operators and transport companies with electric trucks in their fleets, the service makes it easier to find reliable and quality-assured charging stations for heavy traffic and to charge them.
It is also possible to pay for charging through the service at all stations where Volvo has a partnership.
Three simple steps with Volvo Open Charge: find, book, charge
Volvo Trucks is now launching the ability to book a charging time in Volvo Open Charge, a feature designed to maximise availability and uptime for transport companies’ and fleet operators’ electric trucks.
The service makes roadside charging more predictable, reliable, and efficient.
Arla and DFDS are the first in Sweden to use the new booking functionality within Volvo Open Charge.
These customers are participating in testing the service to gather valuable feedback to improve and further develop the booking feature.
Bookings are made at the charging station in Borås with Volvo Trucks’ dealer Borås Bil Lastvagnar.
It is one of 41 charging stations supported by OKQ8, Skellefteå Kraft, and Volvo Trucks Sweden.
The goal is to establish one of Sweden’s largest integrated networks of public charging stations with renewable electricity for heavy traffic.
“We are working to make it easier for transport companies and fleet operators to transition to emission-free transport, and for this, we need good services that support them in their daily operations,” says Ebba Bergbom Wallin, Head of Electromobility, Volvo Trucks Sweden.
“By offering the ability to book your charging time, we enable higher availability for fleet operators’ electric trucks. We hope more players will join us in driving the transition,” she adds.
Booking charging time for higher availability
With the booking function, fleet operators can ensure that the charging spot is ready and available when the driver arrives with their electric truck.
This means less waiting time and higher availability for fleet operators’ electric trucks.
In Volvo Open Charge, it is possible to search for a specific location, date, and time and then create a booking.
The service provides an overview of future bookings and shows the history of past bookings. You can also modify or cancel an existing booking.
Volvo is also involved in the work of creating a standard for “booking” as a service together with other international industry players.
“Our trips are mainly recurring tasks with regular routes, and we know fairly well every day when and where we pass various charging points. For us, it is very valuable to be sure we can charge at a specific time, rather than waiting,” says Eric Wärnhem, Fleet Manager at Arla.
Wider rollout of the booking feature after the summer
The tests will continue until the summer.
The rollout of the booking feature will be extended to other users in Sweden after the summer.
Initially, booking will be available at the charging stations supported by OKQ8, Skellefteå Kraft, and Volvo Trucks Sweden.
The Volvo Open Charge service is currently available in Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, and the UK.
These countries are next in line for the rollout of the booking feature.
The Truck Charging app simplifies daily life on the road
Volvo’s Truck Charging app is open to everyone, regardless of the truck brand they drive.
It is a convenient way to get an overview of all charging stations designed for heavy vehicle charging, regardless of which charging partner operates the station.
This is available not only in Sweden but across Europe.
The app shows the location of charging stations, the charging operator, the number of charging points at each station, and whether they are available.
Charging Management supports charging at home base
Volvo also offers the Charging Management service, which allows transport companies to connect their own chargers to streamline charging at their home depots.
The service helps increase productivity and uptime by ensuring that the electric trucks in a fleet are sufficiently charged for planned routes and reducing the number of unplanned charging instances.
Various reports support the follow-up of vehicles and chargers.
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