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| Hybrid team powers its way to Volvo Technology Award  Six engineers behind the technology used in the L220F Hybrid wheel loader have received the Volvo 2009 Technology Award. The prize was presented for the team's development of the world's first commercially viable hybrid solution for heavy vehicles. The team was behind the development of I-SAM – the Integrated Starter Alternator Motor, a combined starter, generator and drive motor. When used as part of a parallel diesel-electric hybrid system it has the potential to reduce fuel consumption in wheel loaders by up to 50% – and up to 20% in trucks. This not only reduces fuel costs but also provides significant environmental benefits through lower emissions of carbon dioxide. The quiet and emission-free electric drive also improves environment conditions in the vehicle's surroundings.Engineers from different parts of the Volvo Group took part in the development of I-SAM. Six were represented at the prize ceremony at the Volvo Group's annual general meeting in Sweden on April 1st: Anders Kroon, Jerker Lennevi, Joakim Lindström, Lars Carlhammar, Peter Jönsson and Christer Ehn. Established in 1988, the Volvo Technology Award is presented for particularly prominent technical achievements within the Volvo Group, ones that support Volvo core values of quality, safety and environmental care – and stimulate efforts that further the Group's technical skills and expertise. I-SAM was first presented in March 2006 as the market's first parallel hybrid concept for construction equipment, heavy trucks and buses. The parallel hybrid concept is particularly suited for vehicles that drive at different speeds and start and stop frequently – wheel loaders being a prime example. When a loader drives away it initially uses the electric motor until it reaches an optimum speed for the diesel engine to take over. When the loader brakes the energy is absorbed by the electric motor and stored in the batteries – to be used later during the next acceleration. Everything is controlled by a sophisticated control unit, which was also developed by Volvo Group engineers. write your comments about the article :: © 2009 Construction News :: home page |