The Volvo Chronicle
Page 13
By Christoph Büch (Berlin 2024)
Present and future
The year 2022 brought new details for all series and a greater focus on electric-powered trucks. Although the diesel engine still clearly dominates sales figures, Volvo Trucks was the only truck manufacturer in the world that already offered a full range of electric trucks in series production. The company has set a target of having half of its new trucks sold worldwide electric by 2030 at the latest.
As demand for electric vehicles increases, especially in the construction sector, Volvo Trucks has developed heavy-duty electric trucks in 2022 that will enable customers in the construction segment to switch to more sustainable transportation. Standard trucks with a basic chassis and a variety of superstructures such as tippers, mixers and cranes are now available in electric versions. "Construction trucks typically travel fairly short distances and operate with repetitive sequences, such as delivering materials to construction sites. This makes them perfectly suited for electrification and they can be tailored for many tasks. Better maneuverability, lower noise levels and the elimination of exhaust emissions are the benefits," says Jessica Sandström, global product manager at Volvo Trucks.
Volvo Trucks has also begun series production of heavy-duty FH electric trucks, which, at up to 44 tons, are also suitable for long-distance transport. The electric versions, which have been available to order since May 2022, will be mass-produced in Gothenburg and, since 2023, also in Ghent, Belgium. The FM will be used for long-distance and regional transport. Together with the FMX, the three models account for around two-thirds of the Swedish commercial vehicle manufacturer's deliveries, with the share of electric vehicles gradually increasing. By the end of February 2023, Volvo Trucks had already sold more than 4,300 electric trucks in over 38 countries worldwide. In Europe, the market leader position has been achieved with a 32 percent share of heavy-duty electric trucks. In North America, nearly half of all heavy-duty electric trucks sold in 2022 were Volvos.
Volvo's 2023 vehicle lineup starts with the FL series with electric drive or four- or six-cylinder diesels with 175 to 280 hp. Various chassis and transmissions can be combined. The FM range that follows offers six cab sizes, dual-clutch transmissions and engines from 330 to 500 hp. In addition, the FM Electric is offered with a range of up to 380 kilometers. The FMX series covers the construction site sector with engines from 330 to 540 hp and a wide range of possible axle and chassis variants. The FH range, with 420 to 750 hp, is responsible for heavy-duty long-distance transport.
Aero - the new Volvo generation 2024
In February 2024, the first images of a new generation of Volvo trucks emerged, preceded by a decade of development. Based on the previous model series, the Aero series sets new standards in technology and design. The new models will be gradually launched in four versions in 2024 and 2025: Volvo FH Aero, Volvo FH Aero Electric, Volvo FH Aero Gas-Powered and the flagship Volvo FH 16 Aero.
According to Volvo, the FH Aero opens up a new dimension in fuel efficiency. Fuel consumption can be reduced by up to five percent thanks to improved aerodynamics, such as the new camera monitor system instead of conventional mirrors. This new technology increases the driver's field of vision and thus also increases safety for traffic in the immediate vicinity. The system with infrared cameras also has a positive effect on visibility in rain and darkness, as well as in direct sunlight and when driving through tunnels. When driving with a trailer, the camera system has an automatic swivel function that follows the turning trailer. The system can also be activated via a control panel on the sleeper cab when the vehicle is parked to monitor all activities around the vehicle from the inside. Only the curb and front mirrors are still traditional, as cameras would not provide any aerodynamic advantage here.
Energy consumption and emissions are also reduced by new, patented brakes with drag-free brake pads, which also extend their service life.
The XXL cab, originally developed for Australia, is now also approved in Europe. The new EU legislation, which came into force at the end of 2019, enables truck manufacturers to produce longer truck cabs without shortening the load space. After DAF, Volvo is the second European manufacturer to benefit from the new length regulation. With an additional weight of just 80 kilograms, the cab, which has been extended by 24 centimetres to the front, offers 600 liters more interior space than the Globetrotter XL. The advantages include a 107-centimetre-wide sleeping platform with a fold-up headboard, which promises a relaxed evening, for example when watching television.
The extension to the front also enabled a better aerodynamic design of the front of the vehicle and the installation of a wide, fold-out step, which can be used to reach the windscreen and also serves as a comfortable seat for breaks. There are even two holders for coffee cups or drinks cans in sides of the seat.
The Volvo FH Aero Electric also benefits from the improved aerodynamics thanks to better freewheeling properties. When braking or driving downhill, more energy can be fed back into the battery (recuperation), which is available again the next time the vehicle accelerates or drives uphill.
The new front design of the Volvo FH Aero features a large, easily recognizable Volvo logo (Iron Mark) in the middle of the redesigned radiator grille, which has no black areas at all. Below the windshield is Volvo lettering in locked font. Below this is a wide gap to the upper radiator grille, which can be used for the operator's branding.
The optimized technical equipment also includes a revised navigation system with automatic map updates. Volvo's energy and carbon dioxide-saving I-See technology has been further developed and uses a cloud-based topographical map to improve driving style and allow more driving time in cruise control mode. This saves energy and makes driving more relaxed.
The customizable infotainment system has been made more user-friendly and an improved sound system with six high-quality premium speakers, new amplifier and subwoofer provides an even better sound experience. The new interior also includes a conveniently accessible microwave, which is elegantly integrated into the roof gallery above the front passenger seat, as well as USB-C sockets that are intelligently distributed throughout the interior.
Both the comfort and driving characteristics of the new vehicles have been rated positively in initial tests. The test drivers of the German trade magazine "Fernfahrer" were thrilled when they took the Greek mountains by storm with the new FH 16 Aero 6x2. The 17-liter D17 diesel engine with 780 hp provided the necessary performance. However, this power class is primarily intended for heavy-duty transportation. The new engine is available in three versions: with 600 hp and 3000 Nm, with 700 hp and 3400 Nm and with 780 hp and 3800 Nm. This makes it the most powerful engine ever built by Volvo. But even the less powerful FH Aero I-Safe 4x2 with 460 hp offers unadulterated driving pleasure, as expressed in the test report: "You glide along effortlessly and souvereignly“.
Sources:
Christer Olsson: Volvo – Sechzig Jahre Lkw-Bau, Förlagshuset Norden AB 1987, ISBN 9186442 68 6
Christer Olsson: Das große Buch der Volvo-Typen, Motorbuch-Verlag, Stuttgart, 1969, ISBN 3-613-01747-4
Pat Kennet: Volvo, World Trucks No.7, 1979, ISBN 0 85059 327 1
Volvo Trucks, A Historical Review, Volvo Truck Corporation, Gothenburg, Sweden, 1980
The German annual catalogs "Lastauto-Omnibus" from 1971 to 2018, Motorbuch-Verlag, Stuttgart.
Web links:
https://www.volvotrucks.com/en-en/about-us/who-we-are/our-heritage.html
https://www.volvotrucks.de/de-de/trucks.html
https://www.electrive.net/2022/09/14/volvo-trucks-nimmt-serienproduktion-schwerer-elektro-lkw-auf/
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_Trucks
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_Group
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