Volvo Penta Going Full Charge into Hybrid & All-electric Drivelines

Aiming to become a driving force in sustainable power solutions, Volvo Penta says it is going full charge into hybrid and all-electric drivelines, offering electrified solutions in both its marine and industrial segments by 2021.

Volvo Penta’s chief technology officer, Johan Carlsson, and system engineer, Karin Åkman, discussed innovation for electromobility at the company’s new development-and-test laboratory in Gothenburg.

By 2021, Volvo Penta will provide electrified power solutions for both its land and sea-based business segment, in a move underpinned by the success of hybrid and all-electric technology introduced by the Volvo Group.

“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,” he added. “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,” said 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.”

As part of this increased commitment, Volvo Penta has restructured its organization to accelerate the switch toward 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.

As a Tier 1 partner to many leading equipment manufacturers in the marine and industrial segments, Volvo Penta is in a unique position to further develop the proven electric platforms from the Volvo Group. The company can deploy this technical knowledge with its deep application understanding to help manufacturers develop advanced, robust and successful products that use the most appropriate power technology platform for their intended use.

While the power outputs and applications of the initial electric systems are being kept confidential for the time being, the company has announced that both hybrid and all-electric solutions will be offered at the outset. 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,” Inden said. “These solutions will not just be more sustainable, they will also be high performance – delivering a no compromise win-win offering for customers and the environment.”