Encouraged by its aircraft engine component, Volvo is researching the application of lightweight technology for trucks, which, within a decade, could make them at least 20 percent lighter. Currently, the company’s Swedish officials are creating the super light vehicle using a computer program that simulates numerous alterations where weight can be removed without altering durability. A lighter vehicle could be powered by a smaller engine, potentially one powered by renewable energy or a hybrid system, which would further reduce its fuel use and emissions. The challenge, according to Volvo, will be using lighter, more durable materials while keeping the costs down.

Volvo research could lead to trucks at least 20 percent lighter within a decade, resulting in less fuel use and lower emissions.

Swedish Volvo officials are working on what they call light-weight technology, which could be used on future U.S. trucks, said Jim McNamara, a Volvo Trucks North America spokesman.

Carl Fredrik Hartung, Volvo Technology project manager, said technology has mainly been used in Volvo Aero’s aircraft engine component, but company engineers see potential truck use.

“We are creating the super-light vehicle in a computer program that simulates how hundreds of thousands of small construction alterations can reduce the vehicle’s total weight without affecting other key characteristics in the vehicle, such as crashworthiness or the ability to bear loads,” Hartung said.

A lighter vehicle can be powered by a smaller engine. If that engine is powered by renewable fuel or hybrid systems in which the diesel engine is jointly powered with an electric motor, then fuel consumption and emissions can be further reduced.

An engineering challenge is that the lighter materials must be durable and more expensive materials may have to be used, while still keeping the cost down.

“First we look at the sheet metal thickness, so we try to reduce the metal thickness as much as possible,” Hartung said. “When we cannot reduce that anymore, we try to look at alternative materials, such as aluminum or carbon fiber.”

[source - etrucker.com]