Motor trucks are one of the slowest kinds of vehicle on the road, as are hybrids. So when you combine the two, logic dictates you should end up with a vehicle that can barely move, right? Wrong.

Volvo disproved this theory recently when its hybrid truck, the appropriately named Mean Green, went up against a Ferrari in an exhibition race and won.

It’s probably worth noting Mean Green is not your average truck. It’s powered by a 16-litre, 700bhp engine that, with the aid of a pair of turbochargers and a 200bhp electric motor, produces a total power output of 1,900bhp and 1,100Nm of torque. That’s quite a lot.

Mean Green’s performance isn’t due to sheer power alone. It also benefits from super slippery aerodynamics and a comprehensive weight-loss programme. Its front axle has been reduced from 100kg to 57kg, for example. Its makers also removed the gear set for first gear from its gearbox, which shaved another 7kg from the total package. Even the driver, Boije Ovebrink, was asked to lose 20kg from his own fleshy chassis.

The result of all this, as you’ll see in the video embedded above, is that Mean Green is pretty freaking fast. The Ferrari F360 Spider gets off the line more sharply at the start of the race, but once Mean Green is doing 60kph, Ovebrink shifts straight into ninth gear and later roars past the startled supercar, snatching victory at the line.

Have at the video for yourself above, but be warned — it might just change your mind about hybrids.

What do you think about hybrids now since you’ve seen this truck race a Ferrari?
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VOLVO HYBRID TRUCK CHALLENGES A FERRARI!

The Swedish racing legend, Boije Ovebrink, is not afraid to challenge other powerful vehicles with his hybrid truck, ‘Mean Green’. For example, at the Trucking Festival in Mantorp, Sweden on 27th August ‘Mean Green’ took part in an exciting race against a Ferrari sports car.

It was a fierce contest with ‘Mean Green’, a converted Volvo VN featuring the very latest hybrid technology from Volvo Trucks, challenging the Ferrari sports car driven by Henrik Appelholm.

The Ferrari, as you might expect, took the lead from the start, but ‘Mean Green’ quickly caught up and eventually won by a hair’s breadth.

“It was very close and I’m happy because now I know that the Volvo hybrid is as fast as a Ferrari,” says a very happy Boije Ovebrink.