Volvo Technology Award

The Volvo Technology Award is a mark of recognition for outstanding technical advances which contribute to the enhancement of the Volvo Group's high-tech competitiveness and technological expertise.

Recipients over the years have included world-famous innovations, such as the Duo prop marine drive, the City Filter used to purify truck and bus exhausts, and Volvo's side airbags (SIPS).

The Volvo Technology Award, which is open to personnel within the Volvo Group, is awarded annually at AB Volvo's Annual General Meeting.

Recipient 2019
Electric Site

Electric Site

A ground-breaking project saw autonomous, hybrid and all-electric concept machines electrify a quarry in Sweden.

Volvo CE’s Electric Site solution involved the development of an all-new concept of an autonomous, battery electric, load carrier. The prototype machine, HX02, was just one element of an electric site research project that delivered up to a 98% reduction in carbon emissions, a 70% reduction in energy cost and a 40% reduction in operator cost – demonstrating the Electric Site solution’s environmental, efficiency, safety and cost benefits.  

“This award recognized not just one innovation – but a whole raft of them that were necessary to reimagine how an age-old process – quarrying – could be modernized in order to radically cut emissions,” says Lars Stenqvist, Volvo Group Chief Technology Officer. “In a company that is so alive with new research and innovation as the Volvo Group, Volvo CE’s Electric site project stood out both for its scope and its results. This is a great example of what we can achieve by pushing boundaries and working in partnership with our customers.”

Read the full press release here

Previous recipients

Year Recipient Description
2018 Hybrid excavator concept   The concept delivers significant improvements in fuel efficiency and productivity, thanks to the use of an electronically-controlled hydraulics system, energy recovery system and pump optimization.
2017 Wave Piston Design The Volvo Group’s new truck engines are more fuel efficient as a result of their intelligent piston design. Waves have been added to the piston crown to improve the use of oxygen.
2016 Electric bus The Volvo Group’s position as a world leader in terms of electric buses can largely be attributed to the unique and innovative electric powertrain.
2015 Dual Clutch transmission The I-Shift Dual Clutch transmission uses technology from the sports car industry to lift the driveability in heavy trucks to a whole new level.
2014 Volvo Dynamic Steering Volvo Dynamic Steering makes the truck driver’s job both safer and more comfortable.
2013 The I-see system - fuel-saving “autopilot” for trucks The I-See system reduces fuel consumption for long-distance transport by up to 5%.
2012 OptiShift A system that makes a wheel loader up to 15 percent more energy-efficient.
2011 Hydraulic system in excavators The resultant improvement in system efficiency is yielding fuel savings of up to 15 percent.
2010 Volvo Penta Dynamic Positioning System A system that maintains the boat in its current position
2009 The I-SAM hybrid solution I-SAM is a permanent magnet motor running on alternating current. The vehicle's braking energy is converted into electricity and stored in the onboard batteries.
2008 New hauler suspension The hydraulic suspension arrangement has advanced electronic control that enables the machine to perform consistently, regardless of whether it's empty or full, or driven slowly or at maximum speed. Under favourable conditions not only did it increase the efficiency of the machines by as much as 40%. It also exposed operators to significantly reduced vibrations.
2007 Heavy duty engine platform The new family of diesel engines introduced mainly between 2005 and 2007 proved that our engineers had solved the equation of higher performance, lower fuel consumption and reduced emissions.
2006 Common vehicle instrumentation The common instrument cluster is characterized by a high level of component commonality, unseen by the observer, while at the same time affording a high degree of flexibility with a clearly visible brand identity.
2005 Volvo Penta IPS The Inboard Performance System with forward-facing propellers. In simple terms, the propellers in the new system face the direction of travel of the boat. IPS uses pulling and counter rotating propellers, with the drive through the hull rather than the stern. Making boats faster, more powerful, quieter, cleaner - and just as easy to handle as a car.
2004 Fuel-effecient wheel loaders Volvo Construction Equipment's E-series wheel loaders adopted a holistic view in order to optimize fuel efficiency: every machine component was carefully designed as an integral part of the overall system.
2003 Volvo Link telematics Volvo Link combines satellite technology with the Internet for functions including navigation, traffic information, emergency assistance and two-way communications between trucks and their home bases, regardless of where a vehicle is situated in the world.
2002 I-Shift transmission I-Shift may be interpreted either literally as "I shift" or as "Intelligent Shift". Since the transmission is genuinely intelligent - not only changing gear itself, but also doing so more efficiently than any comparable unit on the truck market at the time - both interpretations are equally valid.
2001 Film-cooled rocket nozzle A completely new form of nozzle cooling known as film cooling.
2000 Dynafleet II Wireless transport information system. The system made it easier for haulers to communicate in real time with their vehicles and drivers.

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History and R&D milestones

History and R&D milestones

Since 1927, Volvo has developed from a small local industry to one of the leading suppliers of commercial transport solutions providing products such as trucks, buses, construction equipment, and drive systems for marine and industrial applications.

History and R&D milestones
Innovation within Volvo Group

Innovation

For us in the Volvo Group, technology means the aspiration to move forward, constantly working together to improve and do better.

Innovation