Volvo Vans has accomplished the North American rollout of a software program replace system that lets drivers begin updates from their vans and depart whereas the software program installs, permitting updates to run throughout breaks or different scheduled downtime as a substitute of requiring a service heart go to.
The function, known as “lock and depart,” is now out there throughout the U.S. and Canada. Drivers can begin an replace throughout a break or whereas parked in a single day and depart the truck whereas the software program installs, Volvo introduced.
“As software program performs a higher position in bettering uptime, updating the software program must be as simple and handy as doable. Now a driver can lock and depart their truck whereas the replace runs throughout a break and return to a truck that’s updated and able to go to work,” stated Peter Voorhoeve, president of Volvo Vans North America.
The rollout builds on Volvo’s current Distant Programming system. In 2018, Volvo expanded the system to permit eligible North American vans with factory-installed connectivity {hardware} to obtain software program and parameter updates remotely over a mobile connection. Volvo stated the updates could possibly be accomplished whereas a driver was on a break or at a depot, lowering the necessity for a service heart go to.
Volvo expanded its Distant Programming system in 2023 to incorporate six programmable automobile modules. On the time, greater than 40,000 software program updates had been accomplished by way of the system, in line with Volvo.
That connectivity has grow to be a much bigger a part of Volvo’s newer vans. The VNL, launched in 2024, was constructed with expanded linked providers that enable over-the-air software program updates and distant diagnostics.
Volvo has since elevated the variety of vans receiving these updates. In March, the corporate stated the share of its linked North American vans operating the most recent software program had risen from 25% to greater than 80% in six months. It additionally reported a 24% discount in unplanned stops amongst vans with the most recent software program.
Volvo stated greater than 7,500 updates have been accomplished in August, and its linked techniques can dispatch as much as 20,000 software program updates per day.
The software program can replace techniques together with engine efficiency, transmission and battery administration, in line with Volvo. For fleets, the enchantment is much less in regards to the replace itself than avoiding the downtime related to preserving a truck out of service. Software program updates which may in any other case require a service go to can now be accomplished whereas a truck is already stopped for a break or different scheduled downtime.
That trucking distinction is especially essential, the place automobiles can function eight to 11 hours a day, in line with Volvo. The corporate has described over-the-air updates as a solution to preserve vans “present” with out taking them out of operation.
The transfer additionally displays a broader change in how truck producers preserve more and more software-dependent automobiles. Fairly than treating software program as one thing that’s put in when a truck is constructed or serviced, producers are more and more capable of replace automobile techniques all through the truck’s working life.
Volvo’s June announcement described the unattended replace functionality as an extension of its current Distant Programming system. The corporate stated the function was made doable by its linked 24-volt platform in North America.
Why this issues:
For fleets, the principle profit is lowering the period of time a truck must be taken out of service for software program updates. Drivers can begin an replace throughout a scheduled break or in a single day cease and depart the truck whereas it installs, permitting the replace to occur with out including a separate service cease to the truck’s schedule. As extra truck techniques depend on software program, the flexibility to replace them remotely might additionally scale back the necessity for routine journeys to a dealership for software-related work.
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