Volvo Honors Heavy Vehicle Hybrid Solution's Engineers
Volvo Group today announced six engineers who helped to develop the technology used in the L220F Hybrid wheel loader have received the Volvo 2009 Technology Award. The prize was presented for the team's development of the world's first commercially viable hybrid solution for heavy vehicles, the company said.
The team was behind the development of the Integrated Starter Alternator Motor, called I-SAM, which is a combined starter, generator, and drive motor. "When used as part of a parallel diesel-electric hybrid system it has the potential to reduce fuel consumption in wheel loaders by up to 50% – and up to 20% in trucks. This not only reduces fuel costs but also provides significant environmental benefits through lower emissions of carbon dioxide," according to Volvo.
The sextet honored at the prize ceremony April 1 at Volvo Group's annual general meeting in Sweden were Anders Kroon, Jerker Lennevi, Joakim Lindström, Lars Carlhammar, Peter Jönsson and Christer Ehn.
"In the future, the hybrid will not be considered as a 'special' solution; the technology will be seen on a wide range of construction equipment, city buses, and delivery trucks,” said Leif Johansson, president and CEO of Volvo Group, who presented the award. "We see great potential to develop hybrid technology for the construction equipment, heavy trucks, and bus sectors. With its leading environmental position and stature as one of the largest producers of commercial vehicles, it is only natural for the Volvo Group to drive the development of tomorrow's transport solutions."
Volvo created the award in 1988 to honor particularly prominent technical achievements within the group that support Volvo core values of quality, safety, and environmental care. I-SAM was first unveiled in March 2006 as a parallel hybrid concept for construction equipment, heavy trucks, and buses. Volvo says the concept is particularly well suited for vehicles that drive at different speeds and start and stop frequently -– wheel loaders being a prime example. A loader moves initially using the electric motor until it reaches an optimal speed for the diesel engine to take over. When the loader brakes, that energy is absorbed by the electric motor and stored in batteries to be used during the next acceleration.