Greater power and fuel choice from Volvo’s new 13-litre engine

Volvo Trucks is set to launch an all-new 13-litre engine to replace its current offering of the same capacity, promising power outputs of up to 560 hp along with improved driveability, and reduced emissions, noise and fuel consumption.

The new straight-six will be available in two forms: the D13 which runs on liquid fuels (diesel, biodiesel and HVO) and the G13 for gaseous fuels including hydrogen in future applications, as well as biomethane. Volvo’s unique compression ignition system, which uses a small quantity of diesel as a ‘spark plug’, continues with the new G13 engine, giving it comparable torque characteristics to a diesel engine.

Fuel savings of up to four per cent over the predecessor engine are claimed when combined with other driveline innovations from Volvo including I-Roll (available on many of the diesel variants), which will cut the engine in certain situations when rolling downhill. The engine is matched with a revised Volvo I-Shift transmission.

Diesel engine ratings are 380, 420, 500 and 560 hp, with maximum torques from 1800 to 2900 Nm. The 380 engine is only available in the Volvo FM chassis, with the remaining diesel engines offered in the FH long-hauler and FMX construction chassis. G13 rating are 420, 460, and 500 bhp, with maximum torque of 2400 to 2800 Nm.

Engine-brake functionality has been refined, and a new design of turbo installed.

Jan Hjelmgren, head of product management at Volvo Trucks, said: “These all-new engines are not only our most fuel-efficient powertrains ever, but they will also take our combustion engine into the future.

“The flexibility and readiness for all existing diesel and gas fuels, and also future hydrogen applications, means that we can offer efficient trucks with the possibility of net-zero emissions to all our customers globally.”

Volvo emphasises that the new engines are just part of its future driveline policy, which is to maintain a three-path strategy encompassing battery-electric, fuel-cell electric, and combustion engines running on renewable fuels.

The new Euro VI engines fulfil the NNR3 (New Noise Regulation Phase 3) legal requirements, and are also built with future legislation (Euro 7) in mind. Engine weight and service intervals are unchanged from the predecessor engines.

Volvo opens the order book for the new engine in Week 37 of this year, with production set to commence in Week 51, so trucks will not be delivered until next year.