Volvo Puts First Electric Trucks in Top Driving Game

Millions of trucking fans can now experience what it's like to drive an electric semi truck without leaving their couch, thanks to a first-of-its-kind partnership between Volvo and American Truck Simulator.

The popular driving game just added Volvo's VNL and VNR Electric trucks to its virtual fleet. They're the first battery-powered semi trucks ever featured in the game, which has attracted over 7 million players including casual gamers, truck enthusiasts, and real-world professional drivers.

Unlike typical racing games, American Truck Simulator lets players build a virtual trucking empire by hauling cargo across realistic recreations of American highways. Now they can do it in the same electric trucks currently rolling across real North American roads.

The VNR Electric made history as the first heavy-duty electric truck in the US and Canada back in 2020. More than 750 units are now operating across the continent, having collectively logged over 30 million miles of real-world driving.

Players can also test drive the newer VNL Electric, which Volvo introduced earlier this year. It features upgraded technology including a new e-axle configuration and longer range than its regional-haul predecessor.

"This is a very exciting way to introduce our trucks to millions of truck enthusiasts around the world," said Peter Voorhoeve, president of Volvo Trucks North America. The game's virtual routes span everything from Arizona deserts to downtown Chicago streets, including America's historic Route 66 highway.

The Ripple Effect

Getting electric trucks into the hands (or controllers) of millions of simulator fans could prove more powerful than any traditional marketing campaign. When players experience how these battery-powered big rigs handle on virtual roads, it breaks down skepticism about whether electric trucks can handle the job in real life.

The gaming world has become an unexpected testing ground for clean technology, and now truck enthusiasts who might never encounter an electric semi in person can explore one from their living room.

It's proof that changing minds about sustainable technology sometimes starts with making it fun to try.