STOCKHOLM, Sweden — The Volvo Group unveiled new hybrid heavy vehicles today, which the company says provides maximum fuel-saving effects on routes with frequent braking and accelerations.

“We envisage opportunities to accelerate developments in commercially viable hybrids for heavy vehicles. This can be significant for both our customers and for the environment,” says President and CEO of Volvo, Leif Johansson.

Fuel savings can amount to 35 percent, the truckmaker says. Maintenance costs for vehicles can also be reduced through reduced wear on the braking system.

Volvo’s hybrid will hit the market in a couple years

The hybrid concept is designated I-SAM and it consists of a combined starter motor, drive motor and alternator, along with an electronic control unit. I-SAM interacts with Volvo’s I-Shift automatic gearshifting system. The batteries are recharged by the diesel engine and whenever the brakes are applied.

The electric motor offers smooth performance at low speeds, the company explains, supplementing the diesel engine’s performance as speed rises. This solution allows the truck to accelerate under electric power alone. This promotes lower fuel consumption, lower emissions and lower noise levels.

“Thanks to the electric motor’s capacity, the diesel engine can be automatically switched off when the truck stops to make deliveries, pick up loads or pauses at traffic lights,” explains Lars Mårtensson, environmental affairs manager at Volvo Trucks.

The new hybrid truck still has to undergo a wide range of tests. The company predicts that hybrid trucks wearing the Volvo badge will be available on the market within a few years.

Auxiliary functions such as the servo pump, AC compressor and so on are driven electrically in the hybrid truck instead of by the diesel engine

Because of efficient interaction between the two power sources, the vehicle can be fitted with a smaller diesel engine without compromising performance.

“The diesel engine in our hybrid solution can also be operated using biofuels, and consequently, transport activities can be conducted without carbon dioxide emissions. This paves the way for interesting developments toward long-term sustainable transport solutions,” says Johansson.

The Volvo Group is also participating in the development of a new type of battery, Effpower, which is based on proven lead-acid technology used in start batteries in today’s vehicles. Through this new technology, the power output has been doubled, while at the same time manufacturing costs for the batteries can be significantly reduced compared with alternatives on the market, Volvo says. With Effpower, the cost efficiency in electrical hybrids can be further enhanced.