Building on sales of electric trucks for urban transport in Europe, Volvo Trucks (NASDAQ: VLVLY) has developed electric concept trucks for construction operations and regional distribution.

But don’t look for significant numbers of battery-powered earthmovers or dump trucks anytime soon. The plan is to pilot a small number of future electric vehicles with a few selected customers in Europe.

“We see great potential for heavy-duty electric trucks for regional transport and construction in the longer term,” Volvo Trucks President Roger Alm said in a release.

The concept trucks are designed to explore and demonstrate different solutions for the future while evaluating market interest. In other words, Volvo needs an expanded, robust and fossil-free electric infrastructure and financial incentives to go beyond concept vehicles.

Society must be willing to pay for vehicles with a lower environmental and climate footprint, Alm said.

The benefits are significant: lower noise, zero exhaust during increased hours of operation and better air quality in cities with ongoing construction projects.

The use of electric-powered heavy trucks could reduce the overall climate impact from transportation because most freight hauling in European countries is regional.

“In Europe there is an enormous number of trucks that have an average annual mileage of 80,000 kilometers,” said Lars Mårtensson, Volvo Trucks director of Environment and Innovation.

Volvo in 2018 delivered its first regional-haul electric trucks in Europe.

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