Göteborg, Sweden: Volvo Trucks has launched its replacement FH truck range. The new vehicles will be available next spring and, in the autumn, with Volvo’s new driveline and Euro 6 engine.
Volvo’s all new FH series launched this week
The I-See function can cut fuel consumption by up to 5% according to Volvo. “I-See is a software package for the I-Shift automated transmission whereby it stores information about the route as the truck drives along.
“So, the next time the truck uses the same route, I-See operates the accelerator, gears and brakes to ensure that progress is as economical as possible,” says Claes Nilsson, president Volvo Truck Corporation.
“With Volvo Trucks’ new I-Torque Euro-6 driveline – production of which for the European market will get under way in autumn 2013 – the savings are even greater,” Volvo says.
“Volvo I-Torque reduces fuel consumption by up to 4%. Together with I-See and other minor improvements, the result is that fuel consumption can drop by up to 10%. For the average truck, this can equate to a saving of up to 4,100 litres of fuel a year,” Nilsson says.
New technology for remotely monitoring component wear and the vehicle’s overall condition reduces vehicle downtime, Volvo says.
“The workshop can now remotely check the actual wear of various truck components via the computer. As a component approaches the end of its service life, the workshop can then get in touch with the operator well in advance and schedule a service when it is most convenient,” Nilsson says.
“Online truck monitoring, more efficient workshop planning and Volvo Action Service on Call together create a platform that allows Volvo Trucks to set the scene for maximum uptime, Volvo says.
The key to this achievement is the new electronic structure in the Volvo FH series. Using a communication unit known as the Telematics Gateway, the truck is remotely linked up via the GSM network. This allows the workshop to remotely monitor the vehicle’s condition, keeping a watch on brake and clutch wear, as well as the condition of the battery and air drier filter. ”
Now that the workshop can see the actual wear to a component, it can postpone or advance the next service as needed. This will allow operators to avoid unnecessary visits to the workshop and therefore increase the truck’s uptime,” says Christian Gustavsson, service manager, Volvo Trucks.
Since the workshop is continuously aware of the truck’s condition and can read fault codes in advance, each service can be prepared more efficiently and carried out more quickly, Volvo says.
