Cabless Autonomous Lorries

Voltempo’s Autonomous Electric Lorry Maximizes Cargo Space

UK electric vehicle specialist Voltempo is engineering a cabless autonomous rigid lorry designed to increase cargo capacity while reducing vehicle weight. The prototype measures 15.6 meters long, uses five axles, and has a 42-tonne capacity. Removing the traditional driver’s cab eliminates roughly two tonnes of weight and allows the vehicle to carry 15 percent more cargo volume, with five to seven tonnes of additional usable payload. Rather than adapting a conventional diesel truck, Voltempo is developing the vehicle specifically around autonomous, zero-emission operation.

The physical construction is being handled by Berkeley Coachworks, with a major commercial vehicle manufacturer supplying the electric drivetrain. Initial applications are expected to include hub-to-hub motorway routes and short intermodal journeys between ports and logistics centres, where predictable routes could support continuous operation. The first build is scheduled for completion by September 2027, followed by prototype testing at a dedicated track in South Wales later that year.c

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