Volvo starts project with hybrid-drive refuse vehicles in Gothenburg and Stockholm

The Swedish Energy Agency has granted SEK 9.8m (£ 715,000 approx) in financial support to AB Volvo for a project within the development of new hybrid technology for heavy vehicles. The project comprises development and testing of hybrid technology in two refuse collection trucks in Gothenburg and Stockholm. The aim of the project is to achieve fuel savings of up to 30%.

The project will be implemented in co-operation with two of Volvo’s major refuse collection customers. The vehicles are scheduled to be placed in operation in the beginning of 2008. Evaluation and testing will be carried out in cooperation with the customers during a three-year period. During the entire project, Volvo will further develop and optimize the technology for future series production. Volvo will also install and test a new safety system for vehicles in city traffic on both trucks.


For the past 15–20 years, Volvo has worked on research and development of basic hybrid technology. Volvo’s own tests and simulations show that hybrid drive for heavy vehicles is most suitable for vehicles forced during operations to make many starts and stops, such as buses, distribution trucks and refuse vehicles. In these cases, fuel savings can be up to 35%.