Although their presence is still very minor, battery-powered trucks can logically be involved in accidents and their peculiarities mean that emergency services have to act following protocols that are different from the usual ones.
Volvo Group has been the first truck manufacturer to launch an Augmented Reality (AR) safety app for electric trucks, which has been specifically designed to assist first responders in an emergency. The app is developed to provide valuable and instant information from the electric truck to the emergency services team arriving on scene to guide them in real time and ensure safe rescue conditions.
“Volvo Group wants to offer 100% safe products. We are proud to be at the forefront of the electric truck revolution with high performance solutions, but we also recognize the importance of guaranteeing the safety of personnel who attend an emergency in the event of an incident with an electric vehicle,” says Lars. Stenqvist, Volvo Group CTO. “The new AR app is a powerful tool that can help emergency services quickly and safely secure the site, while minimizing the risk of injury to themselves and others.”
Emergency Response Guide
The application Emergency Response Guidenow available for free download from the Android and Apple stores, provides safety information for all Volvo Group heavy electric truck brands, including Volvo Trucks, Renault Trucks and Mack Trucks (in the latter case, AR functions are will be added during June 2023).
By using a combination of connectivity, camera, sensors, 3D modeling, and augmented reality overlays, the safety app can provide first responders with a detailed view of the vehicle. Provides location information for high voltage cables, battery packs, and other key componentsas well as step-by-step instructions on how to safely turn off the electric vehicle’s power supply in an emergency.
The safety app has been developed by a team of experts at Volvo Group Research and Development facilities in Sweden, France and the United States. In addition to augmented reality information and 3D models, the app it also contains all the safety documentation related to the electric truck, to which the user of the application will be able to access once the truck is identified.
