Volvo has begun field trials of its first hybrid bus in the Swedish city of Göteborg. Volvo's hybrid system is of the parallel type, allowing the bus to be operated off either the diesel engine, electric motor or both. When the bus comes to a stop, the engine is automatically shut off. Like other hybrids, the powertrain captures kinetic energy through regenerative breaking, When the bus pulls away from a stop, it does so under electrical power alone up to about 12 mph. The electrical energy is stored in a battery pack mounted on the roof, although Volvo doesn't specify the type of battery. Depending on the duty cycle, the hybrid can reduce fuel consumption by up to 30 percent compared to a standard diesel bus.

Volvo plans to launch series production of its hybrid buses early next year with orders already pending from Luxemborg and Switzerland.

[Source: Volvo]

Just because you want to drive an eco-friendly vehicle doesn't mean you can't have any style, at least according to Volvo. The Swedish automaker has just announced that it's adding an optional R-Design bodykit on its entire range of reduced-consumption DRIVe models. When equipped with the R-DESIGN package, C30, S40 and V50 1.6D DRIVe models record an impressive 52.3 mpg (62.8 mpg in the UK) on the combined cycle and CO₂-emissions of just 119 g/km across the board.

Choosing the R-DESIGN option will get you 17-inch alloy rims, a set of wind deflecting spoilers and side skirts, a set of unique badges and a chassis that sits 10 mm lower, which Volvo says improves both fuel efficiency and handling. Inside, cream leather upholstery and blue dials remind you of your efficient ways.

Standard DRIVe models now feature stop/start technology, which improve fuel efficiency to 60.2 mpg (72.4 U.K.) for the C30, S40 and V50 models and reduces carbon emissions to 104 g/km.


[Source: Volvo]

Every year since 1988, Volvo has conducted its own awards ceremony for the designers and engineers the Swedish automaker employs. This year, the six men who created Volvo's Integrated Starter Alternator Motor, or I-SAM for short, have taken home the Technology Award trophy. The I-SAM unit transforms large commercial trucks into parallel hybrids and reportedly accounts for a fuel savings of 20 percent for trucks, 30 percent for buses and up to 50 percent for wheel loaders. Of course, burning less gas means emitting smaller amounts of pollution and carbon dioxide.

Improvements are most dramatic on vehicles that come to frequent stops, like those that operate in dense urban settings. Conveniently, it is exactly in these instances that the truck's quiet operation is also highly desirable. For these reasons, Volvo believes that the day is quickly coming when all of its commercial vehicles will be equipped with the I-SAM hybrid system. See the full press release after the break.


[Source: Volvo]

Last year at the Paris Motor Show, Volvo introduced the world to its first three DRIVe models, which feature a slew of changes, including efficient diesel engines, manual gearboxes, stop/start, lowered ride height, aerodynamic tweaks and low rolling resistance tires. All of these modifications are meant to increase fuel efficiency and therefore decrease vehicle emissions. The models already available are based on the C30 SportsCoupe (53.4 mpg U.S.), the S40 saloon and the V50 Sportswagon (both at 52.3 mpg U.S.). Next week at the Geneva Motor Show, Volvo will debut four new vehicles to add to its growing DRIVe range.

The Volvo V70 and S80 DRIVe will feature the same 108-horsepower and 177lb ft 1.6-liter turbodiesel that the DRIVe versions of the C30, S40 and V50 are fitted with, allowing for a rating of 57.6 mpg in EU testing (48 mpg U.S.), with CO₂ emissions of 129g/km. Volvo's XC60 and XC70 also get the DRIVe treatment, though they feature a larger 2.4-liter 5-cylinder turbodiesel engine that drives the front wheels only and returns 47.1 mpg (39 mpg U.S.) and CO₂ emissions of 159g/km. All four new DRIVe models will be available in the UK.this summer.


[Source: Volvo]

Next month at the Detroit Auto Show, Volvo will shed its staid image with a new concept vehicle that points the way towards the next production S60 midsize sedan. Besides all of the stylish lines of the exterior, numerous safety features and concept-spec interior - complete with a real crystal center console - the coolest bit of tech lies under the shapely hood. Instead of dropping in the largest engine available, the Swedes have instead focused on a small displacement Gasoline Turbocharged Direct Injection (GTDi) powerplant. Perhaps the 180-horsepower isn't quite enough to set the world on fire, but achieving that power output along with an estimated 47 miles per gallon and carbon dioxide emissions of 119g/km from an engine that displaces just 1.6-liters is really quite an accomplishment.

The best part is that this engine is expected to make it into production in 2009. Joining the new-tech powerplant are electric power steering, stop/start technology, a wind-deflecting "grille shutter," flat aerodynamic underbody panels and a DRIVe-Mode that puts the car's computers into a user-definable economy mode. Several of these fuel-saving bits are expected to show up on the production S60 due later this year.


[Source: Volvo]

You know, the interior of your own car may be a toxic place to spend time in? That famed "new car smell" that so many seem to love is a nasty concoction of chemicals left to filter off the leather plastic and textile inner-bits of every new car after it's been assembled. Considering its enviable record for safely, perhaps it doesn't come as a surprise that Volvo is the automaker that seems to have been working the hardest on ridding itself of these VOCs. In fact, the Swedish automaker has now managed to hit a major milestone for the new year, as all of its cars will come with an official Okeo-Tek allergy-friendly certification. Over 100 different substances and emissions are tested before the certification can be granted. Volvo's first car to be so certified was the S80 sedan, all the way back in 1998. Those with extra sensitive sniffers or those with allergy problems now have a cleaner choice.

[Source: Volvo]

"Best in class consumption." "Lowest CO₂ emission levels." These are some of the nice things that Volvo has decided to say about its new Volvo DRIVe range, which we first saw at the Paris Motor Show. The DRIVe cars - the C30, S40 and V50 1.6D - have entered production last week. These clean diesel models get outstanding fuel economy: 4.4 liters/100 km (53 mpg U.S.) for the C30 and 4.5 liters/100 km (52 mpg U.S.) for the S40 and V50. CO₂ emissions are low as well (115 and 118 g/km). All these numbers should add up to one other: Volvo says it'll sell 20,000 DRIVe cars in Europe next year. The plant in Ghent, where the DRIVe models are being built, uses low-consumption paint shops and green electricity.


[Source: Volvo]

Volvo has major plans for fuel-saving technology. The Swedish automaker will begin fitting its bricks shapely little sedans and coupes with stop/start in the next few months and plans to move the technology up through its entire line shortly thereafter. Of course, the automaker offers diesel engines in Europe and is strongly considering bringing them Stateside as well. What's most exciting, though, is news that the automaker will combine its diesel engines with an advanced hybrid system by 2012. The Volvo system will be a full hybrid with either oil-burning or electric power driving the vehicle without assistance from the other, or the two can be combined. Front wheels would be motivated by the traditional diesel engine while the rear wheels would be motivated by electricity.

Following the diesel hybrid would be a plug-in version of a large car or crossover. Once that's ready, the automaker will begin phasing the hybrid technology downward to its smaller cars.


[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

We met Volvo's good-looking new DRIVe eco-models (so named because they emit less than 120 grams of CO₂ per kilometer) earlier this monthy and they now have a "preliminary" price tag. The three diesel models - C30 SportsCoupe, S40 Saloon and V50 Sportswagon - will be shown for the first time at the Paris Motor Show and prices start at £15,410 on the road. That's the price for the low-end Volvo C30 1.6D DRIVe S, while the highest end V50 1.6D DRIVe SE Lux goes for £21,660. Full price breakdown is available after the jump. Production starts in mid-November and customers can expect deliveries starting January 2. More details on the vehicles are availabe here.

The classic Volvo box car wasn't exactly aerodynamic. Safe for the vehicle occupants, sure, but not slippery. In the last few years, thought, the Swedes have been working to make their cars more efficient and have rebuilt their wind tunnel to further push down CO₂ emissions and fuel use. The new tunnel is supposed to better recreate the effects of wind on a car moving down the road by giving a better picture of the air flowing under the car.

The tunnel's new fan is made up of nine carbon fiber blades with a diameter of 8.15 meters. Total cost for the facility was 20 million euros, and has already helped reshape the new Volvo C30 DRIVe so it produces three fewer grams of CO₂ per kilometer. Volvo says that this difference means a driver who goes 15,000 km a year will use 45 fewer liters, about one tank, of fuel. That may not be huge on an individual level, but it's not bad for 20 mil. More manufacturer-approved details after the break.


[Source: Volvo]