No cab, more cargo: autonomous electric truck concept promises 15% more load space

A new autonomous electric truck concept being developed in the UK could give fleets more payload, more cargo space and potentially fewer vehicles on the road, simply by removing the cab altogether.

Electric vehicle specialist Voltempo is developing a 15.6-metre rigid autonomous truck with no driver cab, effectively turning the entire vehicle into what it describes as a “smart trailer”.

The concept pushes rigid truck dimensions beyond today’s typical 12-metre, 32-tonne setup to 15.6 metres and 42 tonnes, while remaining shorter and lighter than many articulated HGV combinations.

Voltempo says removing the cab frees up both weight and packaging space, creating up to 15% more cargo capacity and an additional five-to-seven tonnes of payload potential compared to conventional electric HGVs.

Founder Michael Boxwell claims the average articulated electric truck weighs around 19 tonnes before cargo, while the autonomous rigid concept could weigh as little as 10-12 tonnes.

The first use cases are expected to focus on predictable depot-to-depot or port-to-industrial estate routes, where autonomous operation is easier to approve and monitor.

Trials are planned in South Wales from late 2027, with first production vehicles targeted for 2028 following the introduction of the UK’s Automated Vehicles Act.

While fully driverless HGVs still feel futuristic, the bigger fleet takeaway is what autonomy could eventually unlock operationally. If removing the cab creates significantly more usable load space, autonomous freight may become as much about efficiency and economics as labour shortages or technology headlines.

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