Volvo provides green access for safer, greener freight traffic

The Volvo Group is cooperating with the Swedish Government Logistics Forum and related departments to realize the European Commission’s concept of establishing an environmentally friendly freight transport system through a “green channel”. The goal of this cooperation is to reduce the impact of the transportation system on the environment through targeted adjustments to high-load traffic, while improving the efficiency and safety of the expressway.

The European Commission estimates that European freight traffic will increase by 50% between 2000 and 2020. Increasing transport volumes require investment in all modes of transport, including rail and sea transport.

“Both rail and sea transport require more investment, but these investments are still not enough from an efficiency or environmental perspective.” Volvo CEO Leif Johnson said. “At the same time as investing, we must provide more efficient and environmentally friendly road transport and take other measures, which is one of the purposes of establishing green corridors.”

In order to support the development of green transportation corridors, Volvo Group and DB Schenker Transport (both members of the Government Logistics Forum) are currently cooperating with VINNOVA (Swedish Government Innovation System Agency) and the Swedish Highway Authority. The aim is to collaborate in January 2009 on a project to improve freight efficiency on the Swedish freeway.

The project is in line with the EU’s logistics action plan, which emphasizes the necessity of establishing green transportation corridors. By establishing green corridors, freight will be concentrated on expressways, seaways, and railways that are more efficient in transportation, and the three can complement each other to maximize the environmental benefits of transportation. The Swedish government has begun plans to establish these green corridors and is preparing to submit them during Sweden’s rotating presidency of the European Commission next fall.

The project includes the development of new technologies and new methods of applying existing technologies that can quickly reduce environmental impact. With the prior approval of relevant departments, the actual test will be carried out by means of freight vehicles traveling on high-speed sections.

One of these tests is called Duo-trailer, which involves the overall expansion of the vehicle, including trailers designed according to the European modular concept. A longer vehicle will have more carrying capacity. As a result, there will be fewer trucks in the green transportation corridor, which also means fewer accidents and environmental impacts. In addition, the project will test new IT systems in vehicles to help drivers improve fuel economy and enhance communication with road systems and the vehicles they drive, thereby improving road efficiency and safety.

其他 Other possible projects within this framework include cooperation to study how to simplify the transshipment and transfer of goods between different modes of transport, such as trains, trucks and ships. Another project proposal involves how to distribute and use alternative and renewable fuels through each of the transport stations in the green transport corridor.