VOLVO

FH12 380 introduced cutting-edge technologies in Brazil

The Volvo FH12 380 Globetrotter (stroller) made history in Brazil. Made in Sweden, the horse-mechanic arrived in the country in 1994 and became known not only for bringing several important technological innovations. The “flat-face” cabin drew attention at a time when “bicudo” trucks were predominant in the Brazilian market.
The model arrived full of innovations aimed at safety and comfort. Therefore, it soon gained the trust of consumers and the country's roads.
The first FH12 380 sold in the country was acquired by XHP Transportes. The São Paulo company was transporting fruits in refrigerated chests from northern Argentina to Ceagesp in São Paulo.
In the year that the Volvo FH12 started to be sold in Brazil, it won the Truck Of The Year. It is the most important industry award in the world. Recognition is granted to vehicles that stand out for innovation and safety. The choice of the winner is made by a group of journalists specialized in transporting dozens of European publications.
To develop the FH12, Volvo invested $ 1 billion. It was the largest amount of money invested in a single project by a commercial vehicle manufacturer at the time. To date, there are rare cases of such large volumes of resources applied to the same product.



Volvo FH12 380 and vehicle safety
Manufactured in the city of Umea, Sweden, the Volvo FH12 had a 12.1-liter engine and six cylinders in line. With a 24-valve head, turbo and intercooler, it generated 380 horsepower.
Named D12A, it was the first engine with electronic management to equip a truck sold in Brazil. It also innovated by bringing valve control on the head and an injection nozzle for each cylinder.
The most important function of the electronic control unit is to manage fuel injection. Several sensors capture information in real time, such as speed regime, speed change and coolant temperature. Based on these data, the system guarantees the best performance for the engine.
Thanks to electronics, it was possible to have a more precise and efficient control of fuel injection, until then made by injection pumps. The engine electronics provided lower diesel consumption and lower pollutant emissions. These attributes contributed decisively to the rapid spread of fully electronic engines.
To give you an idea, with the Volvo FH12 it was possible to perform computerized fault diagnosis.


The panel of the FH12 was curved, favoring ergonomics and driver safety

Inside the FH12
In addition to a fully electronic engine, the FH innovated with a series of attributes, such as the modern cabin, designed and built under the concept of a safety cell. Called Globetrotter it was stamped on high strength steel, the High Strength Steel (HSS), an innovation in the cargo transport sector. Aluminum and fiberglass have also been used in the manufacture of numerous components.
With two comfortable bunk beds and an internal height of 1.95 meters, the FH12's Globetrotter cabin also innovated in terms of aerodynamics. Conical in shape and with smooth angles, it was the result of a design that, from the beginning, sought to reduce air resistance to a minimum. This reduction contributed significantly to lower fuel consumption and to raise the average speed.
The cabin suspension provided excellent cushioning on uneven floors, as it was formed by pneumatic chambers with double-acting shock absorbers.
On board, the panel was concave, enveloping, with easy-to-read instruments. All the requirements of the most stringent safety standards have been assessed in different impact tests.



25 years later
In 2018 FH celebrated its 25th anniversary and in celebration(image above), Volvo presented a special edition that was sold in Brazil. This edition brought together some of Volvo's developments in recent years.
It is not new that the FH is one of the safest trucks in the world. Some existing technologies started with the Volvo heavy truck.

FH innovations in 25 years:
1993 - Curved cabin
1993 - Volvo Engine Brake engine brake
1993 - Electronic D12A engine
1995 - Airbag
1996 - Frontal Protection System
1999 - Disc brakes
2001 - I-Shift automated transmission
2001 - Electronic Stability Program
2006 - Volvo Engine Brake + with 25% more braking power
2007 - Runway Control
2008 - Driver Alert Control
2012 - Emergency Brake Collision Warning
2012 - I-See that reads the roads
2013 - Volvo Dynamic Steering, electric steering
2015 - Automatic lifting of the tandem axis
2016 - I-Shift with Crawler Gears, lower transmission
2017 - Volvo FH with LNG (Liquefied Gas) engine

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