On June 28th Boije Ovebrink had a truly hectic day at Hultsfred Airport in Sweden. That’s when he and the team from Volvo Trucks - along with their partners - set no fewer than three unofficial world records with ‘Mean Green’, a converted Volvo VN featuring the very latest hybrid technology from Volvo Trucks.
This is the first time these speed records have been set with a hybrid truck. Boije Ovebrink has often claimed that ‘Mean Green’ is the world’s fastest hybrid truck.
Two unique world records and one Swedish record were set. The first was the standing 500m, which was recorded at 115.349 km/h and the second - the standing 1,000m - measured an average speed of 152.253 km/h. The flying kilometre, which was the third and final record, recorded an average speed of 218.780 km/h.
“With the hybrid, the truck hurtles forward like it’s been shot from a catapult. Full torque right from the off and amazing power all the way through the power band all the way up to 250km an hour,” said a thrilled and excited Boije Ovebrink.
The records, which are so far unofficial, are the first-ever set by a hybrid, but the bar has now been set for the competition. Boije Ovebrink also had to drive the Mean Green solely on electric drive for a 1,000m for the record to be valid.
That turned out to be a piece of cake, as ‘Mean Green’ glided over the airfield in Hultsfred, thereby proving its thoroughbred hybrid status. ‘Mean Green’s record-breaking feat must first be analysed and verified by the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) before it becomes the official world record, but they had a representative present to monitor the event.
