With the aim of becoming a driving force in sustainable power solutions, Volvo Penta said it is going full charge into hybrid and all-electric drivelines, preparing to offerelectrified solutions in both its marine and industrial segments by 2021. With successful hybrid and all-electric technology being introduced by the Volvo Group, Volvo Penta’s electrified solutions will demonstrate the company’s long-term commitment to offering customers the latest and most appropriate power sources for their applications, the company said.
“Volvo Penta is embracing the electric transformation and will be at the forefront in delivering compelling business cases to customers using this new technology,” said Björn Ingemanson, president of Volvo Penta. “We will take a full systems supplier approach helping our customers in the transition to the new technology. This will happen application by application, on the basis that the business case for switching to electric will differ across our many customer segments.
“This is the start of a long-term transition. Diesel and gasoline-powered primary drive systems will remain the most appropriate power source for many applications for years to come.”
“Volvo Penta is already several years into its electrification journey,” added Johan Inden, chief technology officer. “We have spent this time building competencies, experience and establishing the technologies required to deliver a sustainable power solutions road map. The advanced engineering projects we are currently running, and the performance data received gives us confidence that we are on the right technology path to offer customers a compelling business case for electrification.”
Volvo Penta has restructured its organization to accelerate the switch towards electrified power and has committed to an ambitious ramping up of its electrification investment program. An electromobility development-and-test laboratory has also been established at its Swedish headquarters.
While the power outputs and applications of the initial electric systems are still confidential, the company said both hybrid and all-electric solutions will be offered at the outset, and Volvo Penta is already field testing early prototypes and system validation is under way.
“We have a deep understanding of power systems in a wide variety of applications, which we will use to help customers meet the transformation towards sustainable power solutions in the months and years ahead,” said Inden. “These solutions will not just be more sustainable; they will also be high performance.”
