Loaded with seven new all-electric Volvo vehicles of the C40 Recharge and XC40 Recharge models, the Futuricum 26E drove up to Stierli AG Sursee in St. Erhard on March 14. A world premiere: the first ever fully electric car transporter delivered vehicles for the first time. Rolf Galliker did not want to miss out on this event. The Chairman of the Board of Directors and Head of Car Logistics at Galliker Transport AG personally drove the vehicle from Altishofen to St. Erhard. The fact that the first delivery went to a Volvo representative is obvious to him. "For one thing, Volvo Cars has been a very good customer and partner of ours for decades," says Rolf Galliker. "Secondly, this manufacturer is particularly committed to alternative drive systems and wants to completely dispense with the combustion engine from 2030." For Natalie Robyn, Managing Director at Volvo Car Switzerland, one thing is clear: "We believe in sustainable and electrified mobility - and are therefore all the more pleased when not only our vehicles are fully electric, but are also delivered to our representatives with an electric car transporter. This will bring us a big step closer to our next goal of reducing CO2 emissions in the supply chain, production and logistics by 25 percent by 2025." Urs Hürlimann, Managing Director of Stierli AG Sursee, personally takes over the delivery and is delighted with the first CO2-neutral delivery of his customer vehicles.
680 hp - 450 kilometers range
The new electric car transporter joined the Galliker fleet on 8 March. The trailer was developed in cooperation with Futuricum, the e-truck brand of the Swiss Designwerk Group, and body manufacturer Kässbohrer. It is used for the delivery of new vehicles in Switzerland. It can cover distances of around 450 kilometers a day. The vehicle has a total output of 680 hp and is powered by four modular battery packs with a total capacity of 900 kilowatt hours. In addition to the drive, the Kässbohrer body is also operated completely electrically. It ensures that new vehicles can be transported on two levels. After use, the batteries are charged overnight. If a quick charge is required, the vehicle can be charged to 80 percent of its battery capacity within 1 hour and 45 minutes with a charging capacity of 350 kW.
Exceptional approval from FEDRO
Green Logistics has long been an important part of the Galliker strategy. The new electric car transporter is another element of this. "The automotive industry is increasingly focusing on alternative drive systems such as hybrid, electric and hydrogen," says Rolf Galliker. "Their interest in sustainable logistics solutions is correspondingly high." The electric car transporter is the answer to this.
The new vehicle is on the road with an exceptional permit from the Federal Roads Office FEDRO. Because of its battery packs, it is two tons heavier than conventional car transporters and one metre longer - the energy source is located directly behind the driver's cab. "Thanks to the concession from FEDRO, we can transport the same number of cars with the zero-emission vehicle as with a truck with a conventional drive," says Galliker CEO Peter Galliker. This means that nothing stands in the way of the next revolutionary vehicle in the Altishof-based family company's fleet being used on a daily basis. It passed its acid test on the trip to St. Erhard without any problems.
Volvo - sustainable pioneer in the automotive industry
Volvo Cars is pursuing one of the most ambitious climate plans in the automotive industry: electric cars are to account for 50 percent of global sales as early as 2025, before Volvo becomes fully electric by 2030 and climate-neutral as a company by 2040. The two Volvo models C40 Recharge and XC40 Recharge already show the future of the Swedish premium manufacturer: while the XC40 Recharge impresses with the solid charisma of a compact SUV, its sister model, the C40 Recharge, offers more athleticism and lightness as a crossover. Further all-electric models will join the Volvo fleet in the coming years.
