AB Volvo had developed a hybrid diesel-electric engine for trucks and buses and they think it could go into production by 2009. AB Volvo is a Swedish truck and bus manufacturer. Though Volvo claims it was the first to produce hybrid technology for heavy vehicles, the technology — which allows vehicles to run alternately on diesel or electricity or both simultaneously — has become increasingly popular for passenger cars.
Volvo Technical Director Lars-Goeran Moberg told AFP, “Hybrid technology has been used for cars for five or 10 years now. The oil price, technology and the lower cost of batteries now makes it an efficient option for trucks and buses, too.”
AB Volvo believes that once successful with the venture, the fuel bill for city buses, for example, could be cut by a third! And it would allow operators to recoup the higher costs of buying hybrid engines within two years, he said.
Via: Physorg