“Good to work with something that will change the world”

For the past three years, Gustav Carlsson has worked on the development of Volvo Trucks’ electromobility offering. “Cycling behind a truck that belongs to one of our very first electromobility customers was the best thing I‘ve ever done in my efforts to better understand our customers,” he says.
Gustav Carlsson, Product Owner Simulation at Group Trucks Technology, Volvo Group

What does your job at Volvo Group involve?
We collect and process data about routes and traffic conditions, in order to offer the best possible service to our electromobility customers.

Why is it important to log truck routes?
The data we collect allows us to calculate energy consumption and optimize electric trucks. With that information, we can work out how many batteries a specific truck will need, for example. There is so much data to collect – we need to know how far they drive, what speed they reach, the weight of the loads, how many stops they make per shift, if the road is hilly or flat, and so on.

It seems to be hard work sometimes. Is it true that you cycled behind a refuse truck for nine hours?
Yes! I followed a truck belonging to one of Volvo Group’s very first electromobility customers – Renova, the largest waste and recycling company in western Sweden.  

Is that part of your day-to-day routine?
Not really, I usually sit next to the driver with a smart phone and track the route. On that occasion, there were two drivers in the cab, which meant there was no room for me. As we were in Gothenburg’s city center, where there are lots of narrow roads and one-way streets, I decided to follow the truck on my bike. I would not have been able to go everywhere if I had followed it in a car.

Are you intending to go chasing trucks on your bike again?
Honestly, it was the best thing I have ever done in my efforts to better understand our customers. And that is not just because I am a passionate cyclist. I was able to follow the truck everywhere and when it stopped to pick up rubbish, I had an opportunity to talk to the drivers, who were happy to tell me about their work and specific needs.

What is the best thing about working with electromobility?
It is such a good feeling to work with something that will actually change our world for the better. The competence and know-how we have at Volvo Group means we can take a leading role in transforming the transport industry – and that feels fantastic!

FACT BOX
Name
Gustav Carlsson
Job Title Product Owner Simulation at Group Trucks Technology, Volvo Group
Location Gothenburg, Sweden
Education/Qualifications M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering

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