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It may only exist on a computer somewhere in Sweden at the moment, but Volvo Trucks is aiming to make the heavy duty truck of the future a lot lighter than it is today.

Using computer design software, Volvo engineers are looking for improvements in design and manufacturing that will create the weight benefits they are seeking to make it a reality within the next 10 years.

Project manager at Volvo Technology Carl Fredrik Hartung says if the truck can be made lighter, it is possible to use a smaller engine, which improves fuel consumption and exhaust emissions, while the addition of hybrid drive or using alternative fuels can also bring even more improvements.

Hartung says one challenge facing the designers is the need to use light weight materials that do not sacrifice any strength, which often means expensive composite materials, so that large volume manufacturing is needed to reduce the cost.

“It is important to conduct thorough computer simulations and standardize the manufacturing process so that it will be profitable to manufacture lighter vehicles for commercial use,” Hartung says.