L45H and L50H now offered with high-speed driveline

Offering speeds of up to 50km per hour where conditions allow, a new high-speed driveline option for Volvo’s popular utility wheel loaders means productivity just got fast-tracked

Ever feel like the pace of life is getting faster? Well that’s certainly the case with Volvo’s L45H and L50H wheel loaders. A new high-speed driveline option is now offered for these popular machines, which sees top speed more than doubled – from 20km/h (12mph) to 50km/h (31mph) compared to the standard driveline.

Why would a faster driveline be needed? Well, these machines often find themselves travelling long distances between jobsites, where the normal transmission is slow and the alternative of transporting them by truck gets expensive. Some applications – like snow clearing or load and carry – could also benefit from having a higher operating speed. Cycle times can be significantly cut, thereby boosting productivity.

Drive mode selector

With three driveline speeds now available (there is also an intermediate driveline that boosts speeds up to 30km/h), customers can choose the option that best suits their needs and applications. The high-speed machine doesn’t only travel fast though – thanks to a drive mode selector the operator can adjust driveline behavior to match the work being undertaken. 

Believed to be a unique feature on this type of machine, operators can choose between Work, Transport, Comfort or Eco modes. No matter what the application – materials handling with forks, truck loading, road sweeping or general load & carry tasks – there is a work mode suited to the activity, boosting productivity and operability, as well as reducing costs. In addition to the multi-mode drive feature, a tractive power selector gives operators a choice of five settings that adjust the tractive force to suit ground conditions. What this means in practice is less wheel spin, as well as reduced tire wear and fuel consumption. An optional speed limiter controls maximum speed without losing tractive force.

With three driveline options available, Volvo CE’s ever-popular L45H and L50H wheel loaders just got even more tailored to customers’ specific application needs.