March 8, 2017 Vol. 14 No. 05

Volvo Trucks’ latest concept vehicle tests a hybrid powertrain for long-haul transport, a major update of the truck first shown to the world last May. This is Volvo in Sweden we’re talking about, and this truck-and-trailer unit is not the SuperTruck demonstration unit we saw from Volvo Trucks North America last September. They do, by all accounts, share some elements — I’m guessing materials and aerodynamic concepts — but definitely not the powertrain.

With the new Volvo Concept Truck, the company 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 said to be around 30%.

It started out as an FH cabover with a D13 Euro 6 Step C diesel engine.

Details are few but on the face of it the hybrid powertrain works like almost any other, recovering energy when driving downhill on slopes steeper than 1% or when braking to power an electric motor. That energy is stored in batteries and can be used to run the truck for short stretches — like 10 km at a time — in all-electric mode on flat roads or gentle grades. An enhanced version of Volvo’s driver support system ‘I-See’ has been developed specifically for the hybrid powertrain, which analyses upcoming topography to calculate the most economical and efficient choice between the diesel engine and the electric motor, as well as the optimal time to use the recovered energy. 

The hybrid powertrain is partly based on knowledge and experience gained from Volvo’s hybrid and electric buses.

In long-haul work Volvo figures the hybrid system will allow the D13 combustion engine to be shut off for up to 30% of driving time. This will save between 5-10% in fuel, depending on the vehicle, its spec, and its drive cycle.

Further enhancements to the original Concept Truck include improvements in aerodynamics, rolling resistance, and reduced weight. Volvo calls it “a platform for verifying several new technologies,” some of which have already found their way into production trucks.

“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 U.S. Department of Energy.

BACK TO DIESEL WE GO with news of the International 12.4-liter A26 engine unveiled just last week. It comes out of an engineering project known internally as Project Alpha, but it owes much to German truck and engine maker, MAN, owned by Volkswagen. Which, in turn, owns 16.6% of Navistar, a purchase that closed last week as well.