Volvo Trucks North America Unveils Volvo VNL

Volvo Trucks North America has launched the all-new Volvo VNL, featuring next-gen enhancements and a fuel efficiency improvement of up to 10%. Sales will begin in the coming months with production at the Volvo Trucks New River Valley Plant in Dublin, Virginia.

The new Volvo VNL will be the platform for all upcoming technologies, including future transportation solutions of battery-electric, fuel cell and internal combustion engines running on renewable fuels including hydrogen. The first 24-volt electrical infrastructure in the North American trucking industry and active safety features that are introduced in this new generation of Volvo trucks will be the standard for the future commercialization of fully autonomous trucks. The new Volvo VNL is integral to Volvo Trucks’ vision toward zero emissions and zero accidents.

The Volvo VNL is designed to improve upon five key areas:

1. Fuel efficiency: Aerodynamic resistance has a major impact on the fuel efficiency of a truck. The streamlined and more angular, wedge-shaped cab design of the new Volvo VNL, featuring a dramatically redesigned windshield, is a key factor in achieving up to 10% improvement in fuel efficiency. The integration of the curved and bonded windshield, tighter clearances around turbulent air areas like wheel openings, the bumper and the hood, chassis fairings and promoting a tighter trailer gap are all key components of the aerodynamic gains. Volvo Trucks engineers also made significant improvements to the powertrain offering. The new Volvo VNL is powered by the latest generation D13 engine that delivers improved fuel efficiency, performance, and durability. The D13 engine is available in four horsepower ratings, ranging from 405-500hp and three torque ratings from 1,750-1,950 lb-ft of torque. These different power options are designed to suit different applications and incorporate the improved and optimized I-Shift transmission, which features up to 30% faster shift speeds.
2. Safety: Engineers focused on new and improved proprietary active and passive safety features to continue the company's journey toward zero accidents. A variety of class-leading active safety systems are offered with the new Volvo VNL, including Volvo Active Driver Assist Plus with Pilot Assist which provides active lane centering. Volvo Active Driver Assist Plus is powered by Volvo Dynamic Steering which improves maneuvering at all speeds, including more controlled backing, increases stability at all road speeds, and adapts and corrects for crosswinds, highway crowning, soft shoulders, or emergency situations like tire failure. The new pedestrian detection feature alerts the driver when a pedestrian or bicyclist may be in their path or blind spots and will activate frontal automatic emergency braking for objects directly in the path of travel. Class-leading passive safety systems offered in the new Volvo VNL include the bonded and wrapped windshield providing panoramic views. This not only improves aerodynamics for the Volvo VNL, but it also improves visibility for drivers, bolstering safety and reducing wind noise in the cab. The cab of the new Volvo VNL is designed according to Volvo Trucks’ leading crash test standards and will offer a side-curtain airbag, with options for driver-only or driver and passenger airbags, a North American industry first. Cabs are constructed of high-strength steel to deflect the energy of a crash to reduce the chance of injury. Additionally, Volvo Trucks’ flared frame rails allow the powertrain to drop down below the cab to protect the driver. E-Call, an innovative new safety feature, connects the driver to emergency services where cellular connectivity is available and provides precise location details. This occurs automatically in the event of a rollover crash or airbag deployment.
3. Driver productivity: The new Volvo VNL is designed to optimize comfort, efficiency, and safety when working, living and resting. A new, optional air suspension system, GRAS (Global Rear Air Suspension), uses dual leveling rods to reduce roll and pitch angles, improve lateral stability, and minimize road shocks, maintaining a constant ride height.  The GRAS and the supporting Volvo Smart Suspension software work with the Volvo Dynamic Steering system to provide precise steering control and reduce driver fatigue regardless of load, terrain, road condition and varying engine torque levels. The new Volvo VNL features Volvo Trucks’ most efficient idle management tool to help reduce or eliminate engine idling when the vehicle is stopped or parked. The new quiet, proprietary, integrated Volvo Parking Cooler is a climate-control option that utilizes the onboard 24-volt battery system to power the cab’s HVAC when parked, reducing emissions, engine wear and fuel costs. The new Volvo VNL features amenities, including an optional folding bunk to allow easy access to the dinette space, a singular multifunctional control panel in the back of the cab, upgraded insulation for climate control and noise reduction, a larger refrigerator, and enough power options to support any device.
4. Connected services: The integrated Volvo Connect, an all-in-one fleet management portal, houses all of Volvo Trucks’ digital services under one platform, including vehicle data insights, diagnostics, remote programming, fuel economy reports, safety reports and location services. A complimentary, 24-month Volvo Connect subscription comes standard with all new Volvo trucks. With the new Volvo MyTruck app, drivers can stay in touch with their truck by seeing their estimated remaining fuel range, DEF levels, and coolant levels as well as receiving notifications about potential issues such as light malfunctions, low washer fluid levels and other important items so they can address them at rest breaks or in their pre-trip inspection. Additionally, the MyTruck app allows drivers to schedule specific days and times to start the climate control to have the cabin climate reach their preferred temperature before arriving to their truck to start their workday.
5. Uptime: The Blue Service Contract, an optional, dealer-managed service plan, leverages Volvo’s connected services to boost uptime and efficiency using real-time data to manage maintenance and diagnostic information for any detected fault codes. This enables the customer to schedule service in advance and have dealers perform remote programming updates to maintain the health of the truck and prevent unplanned downtime. During dealer afterhours, Volvo Trucks’ Uptime Center continues to remotely monitor the truck and will alert plan subscribers if any critical issues arise. Volvo Trucks North America’s new 24-volt electrical architecture, the first in North America, helps to minimize battery and electrical failures and improve serviceability when it comes to pinpointing and repairing electrical issues. A new linear exhaust after treatment system will be easier to service and deliver better DEF treatment for an even cleaner system.