A 32-Tonne FMX Electric Equipped with the Most Powerful Fassi Crane

The Swedish manufacturer is taking a new step in the electrification of heavy-duty applications with the delivery of a 32-tonne Volvo FMX Electric Tridem equipped with an 80 tonne-metre Fassi crane. Intended for AEP Paris Île-de-France, this unique vehicle in Europe opens up new possibilities for industrial lifting operations in urban environments and on sensitive sites.

Volvo Trucks has delivered to AEP Paris Île-de-France a 32-tonne Volvo FMX Electric Tridem specially developed for the transport and handling of heavy industrial equipment. Delivered on 25 June, the vehicle is intended for operations on water networks, wastewater treatment plants and industrial sites where environmental constraints are becoming increasingly demanding.

Its distinctive feature is the integration of a Fassi F805R.2.9 TECHNO crane with a lifting capacity of 80 tonne-metres. Mounted at the rear overhang, this crane, weighing nearly 10 tonnes, is, according to the project partners, the most powerful ever installed on an electric rigid truck.

With an unladen weight of more than 27 tonnes, the vehicle nevertheless retains the capabilities required to carry out the most demanding handling operations.

Beyond its electric powertrain, several technical choices have been made to reduce the environmental impact of operations.

The vehicle features an aluminium flatbed dedicated to transporting industrial equipment, full LED perimeter lighting to enhance operator safety, and biodegradable hydraulic oil powering the crane, a first for this type of configuration in Europe.

The hydraulic circuit has also undergone specific development with the integration of a Hydro Leduc XRE 90 pump. This solution helps reduce noise during lifting operations while preserving one of the electric vehicle’s main advantages: its exceptionally quiet operation.

This vehicle is the result of a programme launched in 2023 between Volvo Trucks, Forez-Bennes, and Fassi, based on a Volvo FMX Electric demonstrator.

The project notably led to the development of the SmartWatt system, an intelligent interface managing energy exchanges between the electric chassis and the body equipment. After several validation phases, this technology now equips the first customer vehicle resulting from this innovation programme.

For AEP Paris Île-de-France, a specialist in the transport and handling of pumping equipment, this acquisition is part of a decarbonisation strategy initiated several years ago.

The company states that 71% of its fleet is now electrified and wanted a vehicle capable of carrying out heavy lifting operations in low-emission zones as well as on sensitive industrial sites, without compromising performance.

“At AEP, we have made a clear choice: to demonstrate that electric vehicles can handle the heaviest missions, including those where they are least expected. This Volvo FMX Electric is not a technology showcase; it is a genuine production tool,” says Thierry Guiot, Managing Director of AEP Paris Île-de-France.

For Volvo Trucks, this achievement demonstrates that electromobility is now capable of meeting applications far beyond urban distribution.

“This project demonstrates that electric vehicles are no longer reserved for light-duty or urban applications. Together with our partners, we have developed a vehicle capable of carrying out particularly complex heavy lifting operations,” explains Stéphane Boyajean, Head of Electromobility Product Development at Volvo Trucks France.

The success of the project is based on close cooperation between Volvo Trucks, Fassi, Forez-Bennes, Fassi Paris Nord, and AEP Paris Île-de-France.

The teams at Fassi Paris Nord worked for several months on integrating the crane, the bodywork and the SmartWatt system to ensure perfect interaction between the various components while optimising energy efficiency and acoustic performance.

For Sylvain Denis, Head of Research & Innovation at Forez-Bennes, the project illustrates the potential of electric solutions for heavy lifting applications, while Fabien Compagnon, Managing Director of Fassi Paris Nord, describes it as a “world first” made possible through the cooperation of all the partners.

With this FMX Electric equipped with an 80 tonne-metre crane, Volvo Trucks demonstrates that electric vehicles are now capable of meeting the most demanding industrial lifting requirements.

Beyond the technical achievement, this project paves the way for a new generation of electric rigid trucks capable of operating in urban centres, critical infrastructures and industrial sites while reducing local emissions and noise pollution.