Volvo Truck Tests a Hybrid Vehicle for Long Haul

GÖTEBORG, Sweden, Feb 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

With the Volvo Concept Truck Volvo Trucks has developed its first hybrid vehicle designed for long haul applications. In combination with the vehicle's other improvements, the total reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 is around 30 per cent. 

Volvo Trucks first unveiled the Volvo Concept Truck in May 2016, and has now developed and enhanced the vehicle even further. In addition to the improvements in aerodynamics, rolling resistance and reduced weight, the new version also features a hybrid powertrain – one of the first of its kind for heavy-duty trucks in long haul applications.

"We strive to be at the forefront of electromobility and to constantly push the limits when it comes to reducing fuel consumption and emissions," says Claes Nilsson, CEO at Volvo Trucks. "Over the coming years, as society moves more and more towards renewable energy, we strongly believe that electromobility and hybrid technology will become increasingly important. The powertrain in our concept truck has been developed to improve transport efficiency and thereby help the industry towards sustainable transport. With the concept truck we will gain valuable knowledge and experience, which will help us develop the technology further."

The Volvo Concept Truck is the result of the Swedish part of a bilateral research project involving both the Swedish energy authority Energimyndigheten and the US Department of Energy.

An American Concept Truck, the SuperTruck project, was developed as part of the US Department of Energy's SuperTruck programme, which promotes research and development to improve transport efficiency for long-haul operations in North America.

Facts: Electric hybrid powertrain

- Recovers energy when driving downhill on slopes steeper than one per cent, or when braking. The recovered energy is stored in the vehicle's batteries and used to power the truck in electric mode on flat roads or low gradients.

- An enhanced version of Volvo Trucks' driver support system I-See, which has been developed specially for the hybrid powertrain, analyses the upcoming topography using information from GPS and the electronic map.

- In long haul transportation, it is estimated that the hybrid powertrain will allow the combustion engine to be shut off for up to 30 per cent of driving time. This will save between 5-10 per cent in fuel, depending on the vehicle and its drive cycle.

See film about Volvo Concept Truck here

Read more about Volvo Concept Truck here

Learn more about Volvo SuperTruck here

For further information, please contact:

Christina Magnusson,
PR and Media Relations Volvo Trucks
Phone: +46-31-3227636,
E-mail: christina.ohlsson-jones@volvo.com

For more stories from the Volvo Group, please visit www.volvogroup.com/press.

The Volvo Group is one of the world's leading manufacturers of trucks, buses, construction equipment and marine and industrial engines. The Group also provides complete solutions for financing and service. The Volvo Group, which employs about 95,000 people, has production facilities in 18 countries and sells its products in more than 190 markets. In 2016 the Volvo Group's sales amounted to about SEK 302 billion (EUR 31,9 billion). The Volvo Group is a publicly-held company headquartered in Göteborg, Sweden. Volvo shares are listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. For more information, please visit www.volvogroup.com. 

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SOURCE Volvo