Volvo Trucks

At the beginning of April 2008, Volvo Trucks took its final preparatory step towards a commercial launch of the world’s first hybrid refuse trucks by delivering vehicles to two of Sweden’s leading waste management companies, Ragn-Sells in Stockholm and Renova in Göteborg. They will be testing these hybrids since waste management is a segment in which hybrid technology really comes into its own.

Cleaner and quieter

The low emission and noise levels are ideal for sensitive inner-city areas. Hybrid technology, which is expected to reduce fuel consumption by up to 30 per cent depending on the addition to the truck, will also significantly help improve the driver’s working environment as a result of the reductions in emissions and noise. Politicians and trade and industry were also extremely interested when Volvo’s hybrid solutions were presented simultaneously in inner-city environments in Stockholm and Göteborg.

“Since we presented the first concept vehicle in 2006, we have seen a sharp increase in interest on the market. What makes our solution unique is the fact that it is sufficiently powerful to drive heavy-duty vehicles and that it is more cost-effective than the other solutions currently available. These characteristics are the factors that will determine whether a hybrid can be commercially viable,” said Volvo Trucks’ President, Staffan Jufors, at the presentation in Stockholm.