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Volvo's Hybrid Trucks Are Performing Well

Volvo’s hybrid truck customers are giving positive feedback on the newly purchased haulers. They perform like standard diesel ones but consumes less fuel and are less noisy.
Volvo FE Hybrid 6 photos
Photo: Volvo
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Since Volvo launched the new FE Hybrid in 2011, 50 trucks have been delivered to customers around Europe, with half of them being used for delivery jobs and half for refuse duties, where they performed excellently.

“It’s been amazing! Our hybrid technology has performed exactly as we hoped, as regards both carbon dioxide emission reductions and reliability. Prior to the launch we trained two hybrid technology experts so they’d be prepared to quickly get to any customers experiencing problems with their new trucks. But the fact is they have had very little to do. They’ve spent most of their time training drivers and mechanics.”, business manager for alternative drivelines Christina Eriksson said.

Depending on chassis and driving cycles, the trucks registered a fuel saving between 15 and 20 percent, while some refuse trucks featuring a rechargeable electrified waste compactor managed to cut off fuel consumption by 30 percent.

Powered by a 7-liter diesel engine rated at 300 or 340 hp and 1160 or 1300 Nm of torque, the trucks are equipped with an additional 120 kW electric motor. Electricity is drawn from the latest generation of lithium-ion batteries, mounted low on the chassis.

Hybrid technology is a long-term investment by Volvo, further plans including lowering the costs and increasing sale volumes to expand. Currently, the Volvo FE Hybrid is available in all Nordic countries to which Britain, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Benelux countries are added.
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