Several independent press tests carried out by specialist German magazines designate the Volvo FH with I-Save as the most efficient in terms of combined diesel and AdBlue consumption, while the truck tested did not even benefit from the very latest Volvo’s fuel efficiency.
Today, the cost of fuel is more than ever a subject of concern for carriers. Not only has the price of Diesel skyrocketed recently, but many transport companies are suffering from AdBlue prices, which have more than doubled.
“When investing in a new truck, it is more important than ever to carefully consider its total energy consumption”says Peter Franzén, engine product manager at Volvo Trucks.
Most fuel efficient in multiple tests
German independent magazines Trucker and Transportation recently compared the Volvo FH 500 with I-Save to its big European competitors. The Volvo won the two comparative tests which studied the total consumption of diesel and AdBlue. Despite its low consumption, the Volvo truck maintained a very high average speed during the test of Trucker and during that of Transportationit even beat its competitors in terms of speed.
“Our engineers have managed to combine high speed with very low fuel consumption, which is quite an achievement. You often have to choose one or the other, but we have proven that it is possible to combine economy and performance”explains Peter Franzén. “We managed to be the best in terms of fuel consumption in both tests, which is even more impressive, since the truck tested did not benefit from our latest improvements, which lower fuel consumption by a few additional percent! »
The new improvements save up to 13% on total fuel costs.
The Volvo FH tested was equipped with I-Save, a variant that combines different software and driveline features to reduce fuel consumption as much as possible. The heart of the I-Save is the turbocharged (turbocompound) engine, which allows driving with low engine speed and high gear for longer periods. With recently launched enhancements, I-Save can boost fuel savings by 13%, compared to consumption at launch in 2019.
“In an effort to increase fuel efficiency, we have further advanced the Volvo FH to ensure complete engine optimisation. Given historically high energy prices, now is the perfect time”concludes Peter Franzén.
Information about new fuel consumption improvements
The engine’s combustion phenomenon has been improved by adapting the injectors, compression and camshaft to the new, uniquely shaped, wave-shaped pistons. Overall weight and internal friction have also been reduced. The high-performance turbocharger and oil pump have been upgraded, and even the oil, fuel and air filters feature patented performance-enhancing upgrades.
The engine now works with the I-Shift gearbox, automatic and intelligent, 30% faster. This increased responsiveness contributes to improving consumption, pleasure and driving flexibility.
The I-Torque software is a new intelligent torque software, which increases fuel efficiency by analyzing topographic data from the I-See function and adapting the driving to the actual journey. I-See uses information about the planned route to make the most of the truck’s kinetic energy when traveling over hilly terrain. The new I-Torque software optimizes gear selection and motor torque. This function studies the road ahead and assesses the topography and the weight of the vehicle to determine exactly how much torque the engine needs and when, in order to drive with the least possible consumption.
Over long distances, the truck’s aerodynamics play an important role in fuel consumption. Several key airflow-enhancing changes have therefore been made, including narrowing the gaps at the front of the cabin and lengthening the doors.
All of these improvements contribute to the lowest fuel consumption and lowest total costs ever achieved by Volvo Trucks. It will be interesting to see how Volvo improves its results in the upcoming trade press tests.
In France, the Volvo FH I Save broke all fuel consumption records on the 4 reference press routes of the specialized press.*
* press tests carried out in August 2021, the latest to date.
Volvo Trucks press release.
