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Volvo Launches First Hybrid Garbage Truck in Sweden - MULTI VIDEOS

GOTHENBURG - April 11, 2008: Steeply rising oil prices and a strongfocus on the climate have made fuel-saving hybrid technology particularlyinteresting. Volvo Trucks is now taking an important step towardscommercialisation of this technology for heavy vehicles by launching twohybrid refuse trucks that will be tested in regular daily operations inSweden by refuse collection firms Renova and Ragn-Sells.

“This test phase is the last stage in the evaluation of our hybridsolution ahead of production launch,” reveals Staffan Jufors,president and CEO of the Volvo Truck Corporation. “Since we presentedour first concept vehicle in 2006, we have seen considerably heightenedmarket interest in this technology. What makes our solution unique is thatit is sufficiently powerful to drive heavy vehicles and more cost-effectivethan all other current alternatives. It is these characteristics thatdetermine whether a hybrid can be commercially viable. We will startproducing hybrid trucks in 2009.”

Fuel-efficient, quiet and clean Volvo’s hybrid solution combines adiesel engine with an electric motor, with the electric motor being usedfor moving off from standstill and for acceleration up to 20 km/h. Athigher speeds, the diesel engine is activated. When the truck stops, thediesel engine automatically switches off, thus avoiding unnecessary idling.The batteries are recharged using the power that is generated duringbraking, making this system highly suitable for operating cycles involvingrepeated stops and starts, such as refuse collection duties. The hybridrefuse trucks are expected to use up to 20 percent less fuel and thus cutcarbon dioxide emissions by a corresponding amount. What is more, one ofthe trucks is equipped with an extra battery pack that drives the refusecompactor, and this is charged via the mains electrical system when thetruck is parked overnight. Its total reduction in carbon dioxide emissionsis expected to be as much as 30 percent, giving this approach a bettereco-effect than for instance a truck powered by natural gas. Electric powerhas the added advantage of being entirely exhaust-free and emitting lownoise, important considerations for refuse collection vehicles that oftenoperate in urban areas early in the morning.

Hybrid technology is the future in all transport segments
Initially, hybrid technology will be utilised by vehicles in urban operations. In thelonger term, however, Volvo aims to offer hybrid trucks within long-hauland construction too. “Hybrid technology will play a major role inthe future as the climate issue and oil dependency come into ever-sharperfocus,” says Mats Franzén, engine manager at Product Strategy andPlanning at Volvo Trucks. “No matter which fuels dominate in thefuture, their supply will be limited. Technology that leads to lower fuelconsumption will be of immense interest to our customers, irrespective ofthe type of haulage operation with which they work. For distributiontrucks, fuel consumption may be able to be cut by 20 to 30 percent. Inlong-haul operations, the percentage reduction will not be as great butsince these trucks cover long distances, the total fuel saving willnonetheless be considerable.”

Volvo FE hybrid refuse trucks
• 7-litre diesel engine producing 320 hp.

• Volvo’s I-SAM (Integrated Starter Alternator Motor) servesas a starter motor, electric drive motor and alternator (120 kW).

• Electronic control unit and voltage converter (AC/DC).

• Lithium-ion batteries that are recharged via the energygenerated from braking, or via I-SAM.

• Volvo I-Shift, automated gearchanging system.

• The superstructures are delivered by Norba