Volvo hybrid breaks records01 July 2011

A team from Volvo Trucks has set no fewer than three unofficial world records with 'Mean Green', a converted Volvo VN featuring the very latest hybrid technology from Volvo Trucks. This is the first time these speed records have been set with a hybrid truck.

Driver Boije Ovebrink has often claimed that 'Mean Green' is the world's fastest hybrid truck. The event in Sweden was designed to show just how fast, and as always when Boije is on the track, it all went really quickly.

Two unique world records and one Swedish record were set. The first was the standing 500m, which was recorded at 115.349km/h and the second - the standing 1,000m - measured an average speed of 152.253km/h.

The flying kilometre, which was the third and final record, recorded an average speed of 218.780km/h.

"With the hybrid, the truck hurtles forward like it's been shot from a catapult. Full torque right from the off and amazing power all the way through the power band all the way up to 250km/h," said Ovebrink.

He also had to drive the Mean Green solely on electric drive for a 1,000m for the record to be valid. That turned out to be straightforward, as 'Mean Green' glided over the airfield in Hultsfred, thereby proving its thoroughbred hybrid status.

"We use Volvo's standard components in the hybrid driveline. The records show which manufacturer has the best engineering team and who leads the development in this area," comments Boije.

Author
John Challen

Related Companies
Volvo Truck Corporation

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