The Volvo Group today rolled out its internally developed unique hybrid technology for heavy vehicles, I-SAM. The event, held at the Swedish Embassy in Washington, DC, featured a demonstration of a Mack Granite construction truck with hybrid drive ordered by the U.S. Air Force and is part of the Volvo Group’s broad-based investment in commercially viable hybrid technology for heavy vehicles.
Development of the Mack Granite was carried out in close cooperation with the U.S. Air Force, which earlier also was involved in producing a prototype of a tanker truck with hybrid drive.
The Volvo Group in March 2006 presented a unique hybrid solution that it believes has great potential of becoming commercially viable. Volvo’s solution was named based on its functionality, I-SAM (Integrated Starter Alternator Motor), and can provide fuel savings of up to 35% depending on application area and driving conditions. The first vehicles are expected to enter production in 2009. The Group is also developing hybrid technology for construction equipment, such as wheel loaders, in which the fuel savings can be up to 50%.
“The issue of climate changes and uncertainty regarding the supply and pricing of oil makes hybrid drive an extremely attractive technology for our customers,” said Volvo CEO Leif Johansson. “With our solution, we can offer technology that saves fuel and the environment and, consequently, can be good business for society and our customers.”