Volvo crash-tests new hybrid truck battery pack 01 June 2011

Volvo has successfully crash tested it FE Hybrid truck, paying particular attention to potential vulnerabilities on its 578kg battery pack.

Carl Johan Almqvist, traffic and product safety director at Volvo Trucks, explains that a hybrid RCV (refuse collection vehicle), was tested by simulating a collision in which a car hits the side of the battery pack at 28.6 mph.

"This is a common accident type in city traffic, where this type of truck will be. The scenario is a car that goes through a red light and drives into the side of the truck," states Almqvist.

"We decided to carry out the test during the 45 seconds that the battery is being charged. That is when most current passes through the system and we can obtain the ultimate test result," says Ulf Torgilsman, who heads up crash tests fo9r Volvo Trucks.

After the 1,600 kg car sled hit the battery pack, engineers saw that the installation met all expectations, with the built-in safety system shutting off all battery pack activity.

"The test ran perfectly and everything worked exactly as planned," says Torgilsman. "We saw that the battery pack is immensely stable. No thermal energy was generated, there were no fires, no fluids leaked out, the electrical system remained intact and it shut down exactly as it was supposed to do."

"We feel now that we can release this product onto the market secure in the knowledge that it is safe, just like all Volvo products always have to be," comments Almqvist.

Author
Brian Tinham

Related Companies
Volvo Group UK Ltd

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