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Volvo Technology Award

The Volvo Technology Award is a mark of recognition for outstanding technical advances which contribute to the enhancement of the Volvo Group's high-tech competitiveness and technological expertise. Recipients over the years have included world-famous innovations, such as the Duo prop marine drive, the City Filter used to purify truck and bus exhausts, and Volvo's side airbags (SIPS).

The Volvo Technology Award, which is open to personnel within the Volvo Group, is awarded annually.

Recipient 2021

Groundbreaking electro-hydraulic system wins Volvo Technology Award

The novel Common Pressure Rail Hybrid system applied to excavators, resulting in radical improvements in energy-efficiency, has received the Volvo Technology Award 2021.

Breaking new grounds for hydraulic efficiency in excavators, the Common Pressure Rail Hybrid system by Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE), is yet another innovation improving performance while reducing CO2 emissions in line with Volvo Group’s net zero value ambitions by 2040.

The Volvo CE team from Sweden and South Korea has worked closely with Finnish company Norrhydro in the research project, leveraging an idea initially born out of academic collaborations. Today, the innovation has matured into a real-world solution with ongoing customer trials in the field and it is expected to accelerate the introduction of e-mobility across Volvo CE’s larger excavator platform. The company anticipates the new technology to be available in the excavator market in a near future. 

Read the full press release here

Previous recipients

Year

Recipient

Description

2020 Remote software update saves time for customers Volvo Group is first in the heavy-duty vehicle industry to offer customers remote software updates of vehicle components and systems. The engineers behind this solution receive this year’s Volvo Technology Award.
2019 Electric Site A ground-breaking project saw autonomous, hybrid and all-electric concept machines electrify a quarry in Sweden.

2018

Hybrid excavator concept  

The concept delivers significant improvements in fuel efficiency and productivity, thanks to the use of an electronically-controlled hydraulics system, energy recovery system and pump optimization.

2017

Wave Piston Design

The Volvo Group’s new truck engines are more fuel efficient as a result of their intelligent piston design. Waves have been added to the piston crown to improve the use of oxygen.

2016

Electric bus

The Volvo Group’s position as a world leader in terms of electric buses can largely be attributed to the unique and innovative electric powertrain.

2015

Dual Clutch transmission

The I-Shift Dual Clutch transmission uses technology from the sports car industry to lift the driveability in heavy trucks to a whole new level.

2014

Volvo Dynamic Steering

Volvo Dynamic Steering makes the truck driver’s job both safer and more comfortable.

2013

The I-see system - fuel-saving “autopilot” for trucks

The I-See system reduces fuel consumption for long-distance transport by up to 5%.

2012

OptiShift

A system that makes a wheel loader up to 15 percent more energy-efficient.

2011

Hydraulic system in excavators

The resultant improvement in system efficiency is yielding fuel savings of up to 15 percent.

2010

Volvo Penta Dynamic Positioning System

A system that maintains the boat in its current position

2009

The I-SAM hybrid solution

I-SAM is a permanent magnet motor running on alternating current. The vehicle's braking energy is converted into electricity and stored in the onboard batteries.

2008

New hauler suspension

The hydraulic suspension arrangement has advanced electronic control that enables the machine to perform consistently, regardless of whether it's empty or full, or driven slowly or at maximum speed. Under favourable conditions not only did it increase the efficiency of the machines by as much as 40%. It also exposed operators to significantly reduced vibrations.

2007

Heavy duty engine platform

The new family of diesel engines introduced mainly between 2005 and 2007 proved that our engineers had solved the equation of higher performance, lower fuel consumption and reduced emissions.

2006

Common vehicle instrumentation

The common instrument cluster is characterized by a high level of component commonality, unseen by the observer, while at the same time affording a high degree of flexibility with a clearly visible brand identity.

2005

Volvo Penta IPS

The Inboard Performance System with forward-facing propellers. In simple terms, the propellers in the new system face the direction of travel of the boat. IPS uses pulling and counter rotating propellers, with the drive through the hull rather than the stern. Making boats faster, more powerful, quieter, cleaner - and just as easy to handle as a car.

2004

Fuel-effecient wheel loaders

Volvo Construction Equipment's E-series wheel loaders adopted a holistic view in order to optimize fuel efficiency: every machine component was carefully designed as an integral part of the overall system.

2003

Volvo Link telematics

Volvo Link combines satellite technology with the Internet for functions including navigation, traffic information, emergency assistance and two-way communications between trucks and their home bases, regardless of where a vehicle is situated in the world.

2002

I-Shift transmission

I-Shift may be interpreted either literally as "I shift" or as "Intelligent Shift". Since the transmission is genuinely intelligent - not only changing gear itself, but also doing so more efficiently than any comparable unit on the truck market at the time - both interpretations are equally valid.

2001

Film-cooled rocket nozzle

A completely new form of nozzle cooling known as film cooling.

2000

Dynafleet II

Wireless transport information system. The system made it easier for haulers to communicate in real time with their vehicles and drivers.

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