Volvo FE – a fuel-efficient regional transporter

The Volvo FE is an entirely new truck available at 18 or 26 tonnes – offering an optimised solution between the lighter Volvo FL and the heavy duty Volvo FM. With the Volvo FE, Volvo Truck Corporation meets urban companies’ demands for efficient transport solutions for regional distribution, light construction duties and service operations, in combination with convenient and simple ownership.

"With the Volvo FE we are offering what many of today’s companies want in order to carry out fast and efficient transportation – a modern product halfway between the new Volvo FL and the versatile Volvo FM," says Ulf Andreasson, Manager of FL and FE at the Product Strategy and Planning department, Volvo Trucks.

The Volvo FE has everything from one of the market’s most modern drivelines to a wide range of chassis and cabs. The chassis design is flexible and can be tailored to suit specific demands on bodybuilding for a variety of application areas, such as regional distribution, construction and refuse duties, thus simplifying the entire production process. In addition, the truck is further tailored for each respective application area with a range of equipment packages.

New 7-litre engine

The heart of the Volvo FE is an all-new driveline that makes the truck a particularly easy-to-use and economical transport tool. The new 7-litre engine, the D7E, is an in-line 6-cylinder turbocharged diesel with common rail technology. It is available with a choice of three power outputs – 240hp, 280hp and 320 hp – with maximum torque of 920Nm, 1050Nm or 1200Nm respectively across a wide rev range from 1200 to 1700 revs per minute.

"A modern engine concept with common rail technology and a centrally positioned camshaft result in a compact and quiet engine. We’ve combined this with first-class driveability, good fuel economy and low emissions," says Mats Franzén, Engine Manager with the Product Strategy and Planning department at Volvo Trucks. "The new 7-litre engine produces high torque across a wide rev range and it responds alertly to the accelerator, making it easy to drive and eager to pull from idling speed."

SCR for Euro 4 and Euro 5

The D7E meets emissions legislation according to Euro 4 with the help of Volvo’s SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) exhaust filtration system, which uses an additive known as AdBlue to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides. In addition, the D7E is available in a version that meets the Euro 5 emissions standard, which can provide financial and environmental benefits in a number of European cities and countries.

The modern engine design promotes efficient combustion, which also makes the engine economical. The consumption of AdBlue corresponds to between 4 and 5 per cent of fuel consumption. AdBlue can be topped up at any of the filling stations that are being rapidly established all over Europe. Moreover, Volvo’s dealership network offers a number of convenient and cost-effective solutions for refilling and storage of AdBlue at the customer’s own premises, tailored to suit each customer’s specific requirements.

Wide range of efficient transmissions

The Volvo FE offers a wide range of easy to use gearboxes. It includes manual gearboxes with six or nine gears and a six-speed automatic transmission.

"The manual gearboxes are easy to use, robust and well matched to the engines, which translates into few and comfortable gear changes. The servo-assisted gear selector is characterised by crisp feel and low vibration," says Mats Franzén.

Four different rear axle alternatives with low internal losses are available – two solo axles with single reduction, one solo axle with hub reduction and a tandem-drive bogie. The 6x2 version is also available with an electro-hydraulically steered tag axle that makes manoeuvring easier and reduces tyre wear.

Four basic chassis variants

The Volvo FE shares much of its flexible chassis concept with the larger Volvo FM and is available with four basic chassis variants –

18 tonne 4x2 rigid
26 tonne 6x2 rigid
26 tonne 6x4 B-ride rigid

In addition, there are three different chassis heights, two frame heights, various combinations of suspension and a selection of fuel tank sizes. All making it far easier to tailor the truck to suit the transport duties that it will carry out.

Cab for work on the move and for long hauls

Since transport in the Volvo FE can cover relatively high mileages per shift and a lot of getting in and out of the cab, it is necessary to have a good combination of ride comfort and convenient entry. That was the starting-point for Volvo when the time came to design the cabs for the Volvo FE.

There are three cab options –

Day cab for maximum cargo length
Medium cab, which is 400mm longer with space for additional storage behind the driver
Sleeper cab with a deep 780mm wide sprung bunk for comfortable overnight accommodation on longer haulage operations.


Two convenient foot steps – that overlap in a stair like fashion - make it easy and safe to get into and out of the cab.

Ergonomic workplace

The seats are available with various equipment levels with the standard suspended driver’s seat now featuring a belt-in-seat design. This can be enhanced with further options, such as heating or fully-pneumatic lumbar support.

All the instruments and controls are angled towards the driver for greater ergonomics; there is a simple instrument panel for service applications which can be tailored to road speed, engine revs, and fuel and air pressure gauges with all other information being handled by exemption via warning lights and the driver information panel. Alternatively, full instrumentation, as featured in the FM and FH models can be specified.

The cab has a generous amount of storage space, making it possible to keep everything neat and tidy, yet have everything within convenient reach. For enhanced comfort, the cab can be equipped with air suspension giving ride comfort that is truly in the long-haul category.

"The Volvo FE is a sturdy truck that can more than hold its own on long stretches where there are considerable demands on generous comfort to give the driver all the necessary preconditions for doing a good job," says Ulf Andreasson.

Close-quarter visibility vital in city traffic

Good all round vision can be enhanced by the optional lower door windows that offer a good view of the kerb area. These are available in both the driver and passenger’s doors.

On the medium cab there is also the possibility of a rear window behind the passenger door to improve vision, especially at junctions with acute angles.

For viewing the load platform, there is also a rear window option.

Direct vision is further enhanced by new rear and front view mirrors, designed to meet new legislation that comes into effect in 2007.

EBS for safety and comfort

The Volvo FE features Volvo’s EBS electronically controlled disc brakes with ‘brake assist’. This system, not only shortens the stopping distance, but it also makes it possible to integrate features such as ‘Hill Start Aid’, which prevents the truck from rolling backwards when starting on a gradient. The brakes remain engaged when starting, and are automatically released once the engine has built up sufficient torque to get the vehicle moving. This feature, along with traction control, is included in the EBS+ package

The 4x2 solo rigid with rear air suspension is also available with the EBS high package, which includes Volvo’s Electronic Stability program (ESP). This prevents the truck from losing adhesion in an emergency avoidance manoeuvre on slippery roads and also protects against vehicle rollover in tight bends and roundabouts or as a result of a sudden steer input.

In order to protect the driver, the Volvo FE has been designed to meet Volvo’s own tough safety standards. All FE cabs fulfil the Swedish crash-test demands irrespective of which market they are sold in.