Volvo delivers hybrid refuse trucks to Veolia

Four hybrid Volvo FE refuse vehicles will go into service with Veolia Propreté in England and France.

Underpinning each FE is a 7.0-litre diesel engine with the manufacturer's I-SAM (Integrated Starter Alternator Motor) hybrid pack featuring starter motor, 120kW electric propulsion motor, alternator and electronic control unit. The lithium-ion batteries are recharged whenever the brakes are applied and also via the diesel engine.

The vehicles are leased by Veolia Propreté on a 24-month contract. Claes Nilsson, president of the Europe division at Volvo Trucks, says: "It is particularly gratifying that Veolia Propreté, an international company renowned for its dedication to green development, wants to be among the very first to harness the benefits of hybrid technology.

"We will carefully monitor how the trucks are used and how they are perceived by the drivers. This will provide us with vital information for the ongoing development of our hybrid vehicles," he adds.