The Source for Trucking News, Opinions and Trucking Jobs | Volvo fires up new hybrid

Leave it to Volvo to come up with the first hybrid commercial truck. It’s not out yet, but they say it will be available in a few years. That’s part of the reason I’ve loved my Volvo’s, the innovation and new thinking built around the driver.

Volvo fires up new hybrid heavy truck
03/10/2006

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.

It goes on -

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 level

 “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.

In-town driving eats up the fuel mileage in a big truck. I’m sure this will be available mainly on delivery trucks, but should they should make a huge difference in operating costs. No word about the costs of the trucks

Another treat for the environmentalists -

“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.

I’m not thrilled about bio-fuels, mainly because the Volvo engine I have now says NOT to use any bio-fuels, otherwise I might give it a try.