Volvo Trucks increases use of steel with low CO2 emissions 

Volvo is increasing the use of steel with low CO²-emissions. Produced with recycled material and fossil-free energy, this steel will be used in tens of thousands of Volvo trucks starting next year. 

As the first truck manufacturer in the world, Volvo introduced this type of steel in electric trucks in 2022. Now Volvo Trucks is expanding the use of steel with low CO²-emissions* out to all powertrains. 

The new steel named SSAB Zero is produced by the Swedish steel company SSAB. It is made from recycled material and is produced using fossil-free electricity and biogas. The CO²-emissions are thereby reduced by about 80% compared to conventional steel production using fossil energy. 

Next year, the chassis beams in about 12,000 Volvo FH and FM trucks will be made of low CO steel.²-emissions. This will result in savings of 6,600 tons of CO²-equivalent**. As the availability of steel with lower CO²-emissions increases, it will be used in more truck models and in other parts of the truck. 

Volvo also plans to replace other materials in the trucks with lower-emission alternatives. 

"This is one more step towards a zero-emission future. Steel is one of the main materials in our trucks. We also plan to replace other materials, such as aluminum and plastic, with low-emission alternatives. We are proud to lead the industry when it comes to sustainable materials in our trucks," said Jan Hjelmgren, Senior Vice President of Product Management and Quality at Volvo Trucks. 

The potential to reduce CO²-emissions is large, as almost half of a truck is steel (47% of a Volvo FH diesel truck), and it represents about 44% of CO²-emissions from production (cradle to gate; from raw material to leaving the factory) of the total 21 tons of CO²-equivalents for the Volvo FH diesel. 

Volvo Trucks is committed to the Paris Agreement and to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions in the supply chain by 2040 at the latest. 

"We are constantly striving to further minimize our climate footprint. We are also moving toward more circularity in both our operations, and our trucks. Many of our factories, transports and dealers now run on renewable energy," says Jan Hjelmgren. 

The main materials in a Volvo FH diesel truck are steel (47%), cast iron (26%), polymers (11%) and aluminum (8%). They account for about 44%, 26%, 14% and 8% of the CO²-emissions from production (cradle to gate) of the total of 21 tons of CO²-equivalent** for the Volvo FH diesel. 

* Low carbon steel is steel with significant CO²-reduction (80% or greater) in the production process (cradle to gate). 

** CO²-equivalent includes all greenhouse gas emissions, including, for example, methane.