Volvo hybrid truck sets world speed records

A Volvo hybrid lorry has established two new world speeds records for a truck, achieving 147.002mph for the Flying Kilometre and 95.245mph for the Standing Kilometre.

Called ‘Mean Green’, the tractor unit’s bodywork has been modified to reduce the drag a bluff-fronted truck would create, helping it to achieve the record performance set on April 27 at Wendover Airfield in Utah, USA.

We drive an articulated truck

Although the hybrid wagon’s appearance marks a large departure from standard, the truck is actually made up almost entirely of production components. Mean Green is based on Volvo’s American-market VN chassis, which sports an offset bonnet-cab layout, rather than the flat-fronted European Volvo trucks.

It’s powered by Volvo’s D16 16.1-litre straight-six turbodiesel engine, mated to a modified version of the Swedish firm’s i-Shift automatic gearbox.

A hybrid motor was added to up total power output to 2,100hp and 5,000lb ft of torque for the record attempt. The vehicle’s electric motor produces 200hp and 885lb ft of that prodigious output by itself.

The record attempt was made more difficult as Wendover Airfield is located at altitude – over 4,200 feet (1,280 metres) above sea level.

Mean Green driver and owner, Boije Overbrink said: “We are very pleased with Mean Green’s performance, especially at such a high altitude. We knew Wendover would present challenges because it’s more than 4,200 feet above sea level.”

An average speed in both directions was taken for each run over the 1,000-metre course and was measured as the official record-breaking figure.

We drive an articulated truck