The Volta Zero Electric Truck Will Be Powered by a ‘Connected Vehicle Software Platform' Developed by Silicon Valley Startup Sibros

author: Eric Walz   

The Volta Zero electric truck is designed for zero-emissions, urban freight delivery.

Commercial electric truck manufacturer Volta Trucks, has announced that Sibros, a developer of software-based over-the-air (OTA) connected vehicle systems, will provide the connected software-based platform for the Volta Zero, the world's first fully-electric 16-ton electric truck purposely built for urban freight delivery.

San Jose, CA-based startup Sibros works with automakers to optimize their fleets with its connected vehicle software platform. The technology can create new connected services with full vehicle OTA software updates, including data collection and remote diagnostics in a single ecosystem that can run on any vehicle architecture, according to Sibros. 

"This partnership is a natural step for Volta Trucks. We will now be able to perform remote diagnostics and data analysis for use towards our ambition of zero downtime and better operational efficiency for our partners and customers," said Ian Collins, Chief Product Officer of Volta Trucks.

As modern vehicles become more like smartphones on wheels that support OTA software updates, there is a growing need for companies to access their vehicle data, including remote diagnostics for addressing potential problems that could compromise a vehicle's capabilities. The Sibros Connected Vehicle Software Platform makes it possible.

Volta will first launch the Sibros OTA Deep Logger to provide Volta Trucks with real time, vehicle and fleet data from the Volta Zero. Volta will utilize the data insights collected by the Sibros data platform to increase vehicle efficiencies. In addition, the Volta Trucks will also be able to use the Sibros platform to share data with its partners as well as develop solutions based on those insights.

Sibros' platform gives customers access to data such as driver alerts, charging infrastructure, over-the-air updates for navigation as well as service, insurance, and maintenance data. For Volta Trucks, its provides full transparency and control over what data is collected and how it is shared.

Even legacy automakers, including Ford, Volvo Cars and Mercedes Benz are beginning to introduce their own connected vehicle platforms that can help manage data from their fleets. 

The new Ford Mustang Mach-E electric SUV for example, supports over-the-air software updates. Ford Motor Co can remotely monitor battery usage and range for the entire fleet of Mach-E vehicles on the road with its data platform. 

All future Mercedes-Benz vehicles will eventually be software-based as well. The automaker is currently working with chipmaker NVIDIA on a platform to manage the Mercedes fleet of connected, software-powered vehicles. 

Volvo's future plans include having ten of thousands of software-powered connected cars on the road in the next decade traveling millions of kilometers and continuously sharing data with the automaker. 

To help manage the massive amount of real-time traffic data that will eventually be collected from Volvo vehicles, Volvo Cars and its software division Zenseact are investing in a massive AI-powered data center that can store over 200 Pebibytes (225 million gigabytes) of data. 

The Sibros Sibros' Deep Connected Platform can also help OEMs reduce recalls and warranty claims by fixing any issues remotely with software updates. The connected ecosystem also offers many other use cases, such as predictive maintenance, usage-based insurance, owner personalization and digital services.

 "We are thrilled to partner with Volta Trucks to accelerate the development of their connected platform for vehicles and fleets," said Hemant Sikaria, CEO and Co-Founder of Sibros. "They are bringing some of the most visually stunning and innovative electric vehicles to market with a world class team that combines new age thinking with classic OEM expertise. OTA software updates, data management and analysis are all crucial components in bringing customized, safe and sustainable vehicles to the world."

The Sibros DCP is highly secure. It protects against malware attacks and other cybersecurity threats, which is a growing concern for automakers adding autonomous driving capabilities to their model lineups. The Sibros data platform is built to the most rigorous safety, security and data privacy standards in the world, such as ISO 26262 (functional safety). 

The Volta Zero electric truck is designed for inner-city logistics, reducing the environmental impact of freight deliveries in city centers. The truck was designed from the ground up and offers a range of 95 to 125 miles, which is enough to support daily deliveries in urban areas and city centers. 

The truck is uniquely designed with the driver sitting in the middle of  the cab instead of on the left. The design is similar to the interior of Tesla's upcoming semi truck. In addition, by removing the internal combustion engine, the operator has a much lower seat height than in a conventional truck, according to Volta. 

Volta also adds a "glass house-style cab design" that provides the driver with 220-degrees of visibility that reduces the dangerous blind spots of conventional trucks.

The prototype Volta Zero was launched in Sept 2020, with the first vehicles expected to be operating with customers by the end of the year.

"We are confident that working closely with Sibros will enable us to revolutionize last-mile logistics and allow us to easily expand and scale our business, while concentrating on our goal of being the safest large commercial vehicle manufacturer," said Ian Collins, Chief Product Officer of Volta Trucks.

Volta Trucks has offices in Sweden, France and the UK and is partnering with a number of global leaders in the supply chain for the development and production of the Volta Zero electric truck.

In July, Sibros announced a separate collaboration with Munich-based solar-electric vehicle startup Sono Motors, a company founded in 2016 that developed proprietary solar technology for its Solar Electric Vehicle (SEV) named the Sion. Sono Motors is using the Sibros connected platform.

Eric Walz

Originally hailing from New Jersey, Eric is a automotive & technology reporter covering the high-tech industry here in Silicon Valley. He has over 15 years of automotive experience and a bachelors degree in computer science. These skills, combined with technical writing and news reporting, allows him to fully understand and identify new and innovative technologies in the auto industry and beyond. He has worked at Uber on self-driving cars and as a technical writer, helping people to understand and work with technology.