While Volvo continues to deliver evolving new Volvo models on a yearly basis, the Swedish automaker also has its hand in the development of a different kind of transportation: road trains. Under a joint venture known as The SARTRE Project, Volvo is working with a handful of European companies to perfect a road train system that is both safe and eco-friendly.

"Safe" and "eco-friendly"? Yep, sure sounds like a Volvo initiative to us. By using vehicle platoons lead by a professional driver and truck, road trains have many benefits. And Volvo is out to prove it. For example, due to the constricted amount of space between autonomous vehicles in the platoon, each model lowers its air drag and saves up to 20-percent of its energy. Translation: less fuel consumption and more savings. On Volvo news article also points out that "road trains promote safe transport since the vehicle platoons are led by a professional driver...truck and inter-vehicle reaction response times are much quicker."¹

As for when and where these multi-vehicle traveling trains will officially take shape, Jaffarian Volvo can't say for sure. However, we do know that the collaborating companies are hoping to see a road train system in place by next fall at the least. We have a pretty good feeling Volvo and its partners will hit this target. Why? They recently made a huge development by successfully testing their first tester fleet. The trial-run road train consisted of three vehicles and a lead truck and each individual model safely reached speeds of up to 90 km/h.

Who knows if the new transportation system will operate in the United States or not. Regardless, however, Jaffarian Volvo at 600 River Street Haverhill, MA 01832 is excited to see Volvo getting its hands in such an exciting development. If you have any further questions regarding how road trains work, simply contact one of our knowledgeable team members online anytime.