Volvo Trucks will be the first manufacturer with an efficient diesel engine fuelled by a mixture of methane gas and diesel to meet the strict Euro-5 exhaust emission standards introduced in 2009. Field testing will start in Sweden and the UK in 2010.
“This unique technology allows us to combine the advantages of gas with the diesel engine’s high efficiency rating, which is about 50 per cent superior to that of the spark plug engine,” comments Lars Mårtensson, Environmental Director Volvo Trucks. “As a result, this truck consumes about 30 per cent less energy than traditional gas trucks do.”
In August 2007, Volvo Trucks presented no less than seven driveable FM trucks adapted for use by different biofuels. Following further analysis, the company is now focusing on two renewable fuels – DME and methane gas + diesel.
“Methane gas is by far the most accessible fuel as an alternative to diesel. There are larger reserves of natural gas than oil. But above all, production of climate-neutral biogas is gaining momentum in many countries, which solves the most urgent problem – reducing CO2 emissions,” says Lars Mårtensson.
It used to be difficult to use methane gas for long-haul transportation.
A truck with a spark-ignited engine usually has a restricted range of operation (approximately 150-200 kms). Volvo Trucks solves this problem by combining methane gas with diesel and using this fuel in a diesel engine. This increases the operational range by over 50 per cent. In addition, the diesel engine’s driveability is better compared to a spark-ignited engine.
