Mobility is all about the ability to move freely and efficiently. The Volvo Group’s products are designed to make the flow of goods and people more efficient but they are only one part of a highly complex infrastructure. That is why the Volvo Group is passionate about creating effective transport systems and solutions.
Commercial vehicles contribute significantly to economic growth in society. As the number of vehicles on the road continues to grow, the question of mobility is becoming increasingly important. Real-time information is crucial in order successfully to navigate through the flow of traffic.
In the 1990s, the Volvo Group and the Swedish Road Administration were involved in a project to develop a European traffic information standard. This resulted in GPS-based navigation systems, real-time traffic information systems and an early version of Dynafleet, the Volvo Trucks’s electronic fleet, vehicle and driver management system. Dynafleet was launched in 1999 as the first system of its kind for commercial vehicles. Real time information systems also play an important part in making public transport more attractive.
Volvo Buses in Curitiba, Brazil, has participated in developing the initial Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system. High capacity buses, which are often double-articulated, run in exclusive lanes with elevated stops and pre-paid tickets. Passengers step on and off the bus quickly, reducing travel times and keeping delays to a minimum. The BRT is also considerably less expensive than an underground subway system and has been implemented in several South-American cities.
Transport communication systems have evolved considerably since the 1990s. The Volvo Group is currently participating in the EU-funded Co-operative Vehicle Infrastructure System (CVIS)
research project, the aim of which is to develop innovative mobility services and a comprehensive two-way communication infrastructure. Automotive manufacturers, system developers and transport authorities from around Europe are taking part in the initiative which, if successful, will enable individual trucks to receive and transmit information about the traffic on the roads, thereby helping to reduce congestion.
When a truck has to stop ten times over a distance of 10 km, it consumes two and a half times more fuel and produces considerably more pollution than a truck that is allowed to travel without disturbances. Pollution and noise are two side-effects of congestion.
One solution is the hybrid vehicle, which recycles braking energy, thereby enhancing fuel efficiency and reducing emissions. Furthermore, the electric motor of a hybrid vehicle produces considerably less noise and is therefore suitable for urban environments. Extensive research into hybrid technology and other solutions to reduce emissions and noise is currently underway. Another solution, already implemented in Sweden and Finland, is to extend the maximum length of commercial vehicles, so each truck or bus carries a greater load.
Road charging systems are an increasingly common way of managing mobility. The Volvo Group is currently the only automotive manufacturer participating in the EU project known as Road Charging Interoperability (RCI), the aim of which is to build a harmonised European road charging system. The Volvo Group is determined to be at the forefront when it comes to creating efficient, harmonised and integrated solutions for the demanding transport customer of the future.