ACT News Talks Tech: Volvo’s Mehdi Ferhan on Diesel, Electric and Hydrogen Powertrains

Commercial fleets are evaluating a growing range of powertrain technologies, but the right solution continues to depend on the application, available infrastructure, energy costs, and total cost of ownership.

In this episode of ACT News Talks Tech, Stephane Babcock speaks with Mehdi Ferhan, senior vice president of powertrain engineering at Volvo Group, about the company’s approach to developing powertrains for today’s fleet operations and future transportation needs.

Ferhan explains how Volvo improved combustion, thermal management, aftertreatment, controls, and other engine systems to meet EPA 2027 emissions requirements while increasing power and fuel efficiency. He also discusses the continued role of diesel and renewable fuels, the applications where battery-electric trucks may offer operating advantages, and what hydrogen combustion and fuel cell technologies must demonstrate before they can achieve broader commercial adoption.

The conversation also examines how range, payload, charging or refueling time, uptime, infrastructure, vehicle cost, and operating expenses shape powertrain decisions. According to Ferhan, Volvo’s strategy is not built around a single technology, but around matching each propulsion system to the duty cycle and operating needs of the fleet.