Trucks running on liquid gas combined with methane diesel technology has a driving range that is up to four times longer than most traditional diesel trucks. Three Volvo FM trucks with 13 litre engines are currently being field tested in Sweden. The technology of these trucks is based on Volvo’s proven Euro 5 diesel engine, which has been converted for gas operation.
When liquid methane and diesel are used in a ratio of 75-25, a truck performing long haul or intercity duties has an operating range of 500 to 1000km, depending on driving conditions which is double the operating range of methane diesel vehicles running on compressed gas and four times that of gas trucks with Otto engines.
Environmental Director at Volvo Trucks, Lars Mårtensson said, “Increased use of gas is a bridge towards climate-neutral transport. Biogas production is already taking off in many countries. We’re currently in a transition period, moving from decades of dependence on oil to a society built on renewable fuels. When trucks can operate on 80 percent pure biogas and 20 percent pure biodiesel, carbon emissions will be 80 percent lower than with conventional diesel technology.”
Manager of Engine Strategy and Planning at Volvo Trucks, Mats Franzén added, “We’ve chosen a route whereby we combine the diesel engine’s superior efficiency rating with the benefits of gas, resulting in a truck that is significantly more energy-efficient than traditional gas trucks.
“Until the infrastructure for liquid methane gas has been fully expanded, it is also a great advantage for trucks powered by methane diesel engines to be able to run on diesel alone.”
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