Volvo Penta’s electrification strategy
Volvo Penta. Hybrid and full-electric from 2021 Volvo Penta accelerates on electrification. The Swedish company has declared that, by 2021, it will be able to offer both hybrid and full-electric solutions for both the marine and industrial segments. This long-term perspective matches with Volvo Penta’s intention to strengthen the leadership position in the development of […]
Volvo Penta. Hybrid and full-electric from 2021
Volvo Penta accelerates on electrification. The Swedish company has declared that, by 2021, it will be able to offer both hybrid and full-electric solutions for both the marine and industrial segments. This long-term perspective matches with Volvo Penta’s intention to strengthen the leadership position in the development of sustainable energy solutions. In fact, the company decided to invest in electrification to offer the most recent and most appropriate energy source.
Björn Ingemanson. A complete approach to serving the customers
Björn Ingemanson, president of Volvo Penta, commented on the announcement. «Volvo Penta is embracing the electric transformation and will be at the forefront in delivering compelling business cases to customers using this new technology. 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 adds. Diesel and gasoline-powered primary drive systems will remain the most appropriate power source for many applications for years to come».
The electrification journey
The know-how that the Swedish company has accumulated over the years represents the extra gear. «Volvo Penta is already several years into its electrification journey», says Johan Inden, chief technology officer. «We have spent this time building competencies, experience and establishing the technologies required to deliver a sustainable power solutions roadmap. 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».
On the practical side, this growing commitment translates into the setting up, in Sweden, of an electromobility development and testing laboratory. In addition, Volvo Penta has restructured its internal organization to speed up the transition.
Experience and understanding pay off
The company is already active as a Tier 1 partner for many leading manufacturers of marine and industrial equipment. Therefore, this guarantees a unique position to further develop the group’s electric platforms. Its profound knowledge of the applications in question is a valuable help for producers in developing their products.
«We have a deep understanding of power systems in a wide variety of applications», continues Inden. «We will use to help customers meet the transformation towards sustainable power solutions in the months and years ahead. These solutions will not just be more sustainable, they will also be high performance. It will deliver a no-compromise win-win offering for customers and the environment».
So far, the power output range and the applications of the initial electrical systems are covered by industrial secrecy. However, the company has announced that they will offer both hybrid and totally electric solutions from the beginning. Moreover, the first field tests on prototypes have already started, and system validation is underway.
