Volvo Trucks’ Environmental Practices Promoting Sustainable Development of the Transport Solutions

www.chinatrucks.com: In recent years, environmental protection has become an important issue for the Chinese government and for Chinese citizens from all walks of life, rising to the same status as economic development. According to transport development and as clearly stated by the "Twelfth Five-Year Plan", the key tasks related to transportation energy conservation are to further promote and accelerate the development of low-carbon transportation systems. Over the past few years China has gradually implemented the National Four emission standards for diesel vehicles and in select major cities has implemented the Euro V emission standards in an effort to improve air quality by achieving lower nitrogen oxides and particulate matter emissions.

Volvo Trucks is one of the leading global manufacturers of commercial vehicles, always adhering to its core values of “quality, safety and environmental care.” It is the only commercial vehicle manufacturer that clearly demands that their company maintains sustainable development standards. Since 1972 the Volvo Group has focused on environmental issues, believing that they are key to the corporation’s sustainable development. Through controlling all stages of production from product design to manufacturing, Volvo Trucks is constantly working to reduce energy consumption and improve vehicle effectiveness. Volvo Trucks has a progressive attitude towards the effects that transportation vehicles have on the environment stating, “We are both the problem and the solution.”
 

Turning words into actions 1 - Reduce emissions, increase efficiency

Since the early 1990s, emissions of air pollutants from Volvo trucks have been reduced by more than 90% and they are continuing to be reduced year after year. Volvo Trucks vehicles not only meet European and US emissions standards, but they actually surpass the legislated standards and reach the EU’s Enhanced Environmentally Friendly Vehicles (EEV) standard. The D13 Euro VI engine which was launched in 2012 in the European market, was created on the basis of the proven technologies of the Euro V engine. By combining with exhaust gas recirculation technology (EGR) and a diesel particulate filter (DPF), it cut nitrogen oxide emissions by 77% and halved the emissions of solid particles, without loss of engine performance.

Turning words into actions 2 – Reduce Fuel Consumption

For each liter of fossil diesel fuel that an engine burns, 2.6 kg of climate-impacting carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere. Fuel costs account for one-third of total operating costs for long-distance transport, meaning that every little bit of progress can make a huge difference. Therefore, reducing fuel consumption is also an effective means of environmental protection. Through a series of advanced technologies, such as the I-Shift gear changing system, Volvo Trucks has reduced energy consumption during the shifting process by 3%. Furthermore, Volvo's transport information system (Dynafleet) combined with driver training programs can reduce fuel consumption and emissions anywhere from 5-15%. Volvo Trucks’ I-See automatic cruise control system, installed on the Euro VI engine, helps control gear, throttle and brake to ensure the vehicle remains the most fuel-efficient state and reduces diesel fuel consumption by 5%. Longer rigs are another way of improving the efficiency of long-haul transports. In Europe Volvo trucks are promoting long rigs to be allowed on major roads. This would mean that three of today’s rigs could be replaced by just two of the longer type, and that climate impact and fuel consumption could be reduced by 15%.

Turning words into actions 3 – Environmental protection comes first

The energy consumption and environmental impact of transport trucks is inevitable, but Volvo Trucks has taken a series of measures related to production, transportation and other operational aspects of the vehicle to reduce energy consumption and environmental impact. Volvo Trucks is truly committed to the cause; even Volvo Trucks suppliers, production plants and dealers are given strict environmental protection requirements. In 2003, the Volvo Trucks plant in Ghent, Belgium became the world’s first carbon-neutral plant powered by solar and wind energy. The aim is for all of Volvo Trucks’ major production facilities to become climate-neutral. Another example is the Volvo Trucks cab factory in Umeå, Sweden, which has the industry’s lowest solvent emissions. And in 2008 a Volvo Trucks dealership in Verona, Italy installed solar cells on the roof of the facility, making it Volvo Trucks’ first climate-neutral dealership. In addition, Volvo Trucks’ design and production will take into account whether or not the raw materials used to produce the vehicles can be recycled, more than 90% of the materials in each Volvo Truck are recyclable. Moreover, from 2003 to 2008, the energy required to manufacture each vehicle was reduced by a third.

Volvo Trucks leads the commercial vehicle industry in promoting environmental protection. Because of this, Volvo is determined to promote environmentalism for as long as it can in China. Volvo Trucks was first commercial vehicle manufacturer to provide compliance with Euro IV emission standards in the Chinese market, selling Euro IV vehicles as early as 2011. Volvo Trucks uses technology research and development in order to achieve their goal of reducing emissions through reducing energy consumption. Through sponsorship and participation in various social activities, Volvo Trucks cooperates with businesses, drivers, the media, the public, governments and other relevant agencies to bring attention to the importance of environmental issues. In addition, Volvo Trucks is also committed to achieving better energy reduction goals through developing driver capabilities. Volvo Trucks has held the Fuelwatch Competition in China for the past six consecutive years, as well as established the Green Driving School; both are designed to help more drivers to improve their driving safety and fuel-efficient driving skills.
 

Turning words into actions 4 – Sustainable development; focusing on the future

Volvo Trucks is also in the process of implementing several projects related to environmental protection such as their prospective program “Volvo Trucks Platooning”. In this program, the vehicles in the train will be controlled by the first car, and they will automatically brake, accelerate and perform other operations according to the distance between other vehicles in the train. This automation is able to reduce fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions as much as 20%. In another project Volvo Trucks worked alongside many universities and suppliers to develop a “super truck”. The truck was successfully manufactured and showcased in 2013. This project aimed to enhance transport efficiency through the study of aerodynamics and energy conversion so as to achieve a 30% reduction in fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. In addition, Volvo Trucks also continued to collaborate, both internally and with external agencies to promote environmental protection. Volvo has recently joined the WWF Climate Savers Program to verify the company’s carbon emissions reductions and to inspire others in the transport sector to take action on behalf of a climate neutral society. Furthermore, the Volvo Environmental Prize has been awarded every year since 1988 for “Outstanding innovations or scientific discoveries which in broad terms fall within the environmental field” as part of an effort to encourage and promote the industry's progress.

Moreover, Volvo Trucks has been investing heavily in R&D for future energy saving technologies. At the same time as they are working to reduce diesel fuel emissions, Volvo Trucks is also gradually implementing new fuel-saving solutions such as hybrid technology. Hybrid engines combining diesel with electric batteries or bio-fuel, are a key focus for the sustainable development of the commercial transport sector because they will effectively reduce fuel consumption, thereby reducing emissions of air pollution. In 2007 Volvo was the first truck manufacturer to unveil seven concept trucks running on seven alternative fuels and they were the world’s first truck manufacturer to undertake comprehensive field tests of bio-DME. If hybrid trucks become widely used in the transportation industry fuel consumption will be reduced by 80%. Volvo’s methane-diesel engine trucks are 30-40% more fuel efficient in comparison with other vehicles. Already, Volvo Trucks hybrid vehicles have begun to be used in several European countries.

All in all, when it comes to sustainable development and transport solutions Volvo Trucks believes that transportation should serve sustained economic growth and development, bringing their customers more profits, while at the same time minimizing their impact on the environment. Environmental issues are becoming increasingly important for all of mankind, and the need for energy-saving transportation vehicles has become a concern for all. China's legislative bodies and manufacturers have begun to learn from the experience of developed countries, and are working hard to improve energy conservation standard, leaving us confident that in the near future China will achieve the same international environmental standards as developed countries. Volvo Trucks will work alongside China’s environmental movement, bringing the market the most advanced products, technical solutions and cutting-edge environmental technological achievements, bringing a touch of Volvo blue to China’s blue skies.

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