Volvo are aiming to break the world land speed record for a hybrid truck with a re-worked record holder.
Volvo's Mean Green Hybrid and driver Boije Ovebrink. Image: Volvo Trucks |
The vehicle, named "Mean Green" has already set the world record for a truck with a maximum displacement of 16 litres. In June 2010, the twin-turbo, 1900 horsepower, diesel-engined truck broke the record, already set by its driver Boije Ovebrink in 2007, with a new two-way average speed of 166.7km/h over a standing kilometre.
But, the truck had been designed with the hybrid record in mind. Already stripped of as much weight as possible - including six kilos saved by removing individual wires from the wiring loom, and Ovebrink himself going on a diet - Volvo has added an electric motor which delivers and extra 200hp and 1100 Nm of torque to give Mean Green a massive boost off the start line.
The new world record attempt will be made in early 2011, after testing at Volvo's Hällered proving ground over the winter.