FL Electric 18t Rigid

The Volvo FL Electric 18t Rigid has an Irish list price of €280,000 (including 23% VAT). After the ZEHDV Truck Grant of €50,000, the net cost is approximately €230,000. The range starts from €255,000 list price. Confirm current pricing with your authorised dealer and verify grant eligibility at seai.ie.

The Volvo FL Electric 18t Rigid has a WLTP official range of 300km. In real-world Irish conditions — stop-start delivery routes, cold mornings and motorway runs with payload — expect approximately 230km per charge. This suits depot-based daily operations comfortably.

The Volvo FL Electric 18t Rigid may qualify for the Zero Emission Heavy Duty Vehicle (ZEHDV) grant of €50,000 per vehicle for eligible N3 category trucks and M3 buses. The ZEHDV scheme is administered by the Department of Transport — not SEAI. Applications go to: zehdvgrant@pierse.ie. A single application can cover up to 10 vehicles (maximum €500,000 per application). The vehicle must be new and zero-emission. Contact the ZEHDV scheme directly for current eligibility and documentation requirements before placing an order. Do not apply through SEAI — this scheme is a separate programme entirely.

The Volvo FL Electric 18t Rigid has a maximum payload of 10,000 kg at a GVW of 18 tonnes. This is sufficient for regional rigid body operations — general freight, chilled distribution and construction materials. Note that electric trucks carry a slightly heavier kerb weight than diesel equivalents due to battery mass — always verify the specific variant's VIN plate payload figure. The WLTP range of 300km is tested at 80% of maximum payload.

The Volvo FL Electric 18t Rigid has a WLTP official range of 300km, measured at 80% payload under standardised test conditions. Under real-world Irish conditions — full payload, motorway speeds, varying weather — expect approximately 230km per charge. For route planning, use 184km as a conservative daily operational figure, leaving a 20% buffer. For long-haul routes beyond this, plan a midday rapid charge stop — the Volvo FL Electric 18t Rigid supports up to 150kW DC, adding approximately 100km of range in 24 minutes.

At 100,000km per year: depot charging at €0.24/kWh costs approximately €31,600 in electricity — compared to approximately €49,500 in diesel at €1.65/L for an equivalent truck. Annual fuel saving: approximately €17,900. Add maintenance savings — no diesel particulate filter, no AdBlue, no oil services, fewer brake replacements — typically €3,000–€6,000/year. Most fleet operators reach total cost of ownership parity within 3–4 years when the €50,000 ZEHDV grant is included.

The Volvo FL Electric 18t Rigid supports up to 150kW DC and 22kW AC. For overnight depot charging, a 22kW three-phase AC wallbox delivers a full charge in approximately 18 hours — ideal for vehicles returning to base each night. For faster turnaround, a 150kW+ DC charger charges 10–80% in approximately 111 minutes. ESB ecars Business and EasyGo Fleet both provide commercial depot charging solutions in Ireland. SEAI's EV Infrastructure grant can cover up to 75% of installation costs for commercial depots — apply before installation begins.

As a zero-emission vehicle, the Volvo FL Electric 18t Rigid produces no tailpipe CO₂ or NOx — it will not be subject to restrictions in any planned Irish Low Emission Zone. Dublin City Council and Cork City Council are both advancing LEZ plans targeting diesel vehicles in city centre and port areas. The Volvo FL Electric 18t Rigid will have unrestricted access to these zones when implemented. For operators currently running diesel trucks on inner-city routes, transitioning to zero-emission vehicles like the Volvo FL Electric 18t Rigid now — supported by the ZEHDV grant — positions your fleet ahead of compliance requirements.

Volvo Cars is Swedish in origin and culture, but has been owned by Geely Group (China) since 2010. Engineering, design and safety research remain centred in Gothenburg, Sweden, while manufacturing is spread across Sweden, Belgium and China. The EX30 is manufactured in Ghent, Belgium for European markets.

The Volvo FL Electric 18t Rigid supports up to 150kW DC and 22kW AC charging. At a 7.4kW home wallbox, a full charge takes approximately 54 hours. At a 50kW ESB ecars rapid charger, 10–80% takes around 332 minutes. At the maximum 150kW DC rate, 10–80% takes approximately 111 minutes.

The Volvo FL Electric 18t Rigid uses CCS (DC fast charging) and Type 2 (AC), compatible with all major Irish networks including ESB ecars, Ionity, EZO, Circle K and Applegreen.

Motor tax for the Volvo FL Electric 18t Rigid is €648 per year — the rate for a zero-emission heavy goods vehicle (HGV) in the 18t GVW class. Commercial vehicle motor tax in Ireland is determined by gross vehicle weight (GVW), not CO₂ emissions. You can verify the exact band for your vehicle at motortax.ie.