The ORCA project will produce two hybrid demos: a truck and a bus. All components of the truck are ready, and assembly has started in the Volvo workshop.
The control development has also begun and is assisted by simulation work that provides quick feedback to control engineers. The co-design methodology has been completed and now supports integrated control and hardware optimisation of the total cost of ownership (TCO).
On the control side, the torque split between the electric machine and the combustion engine has been optimised alongside the State of Charge (SoC) of the batteries. This progress enables the control to decide if the truck needs to charge the batteries or not.
These features are not only vital for a Plug in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), but also to fulfil zero emission zone requirements. Furthermore, they heavily affect the operational costs for the final customer.
