Volvo begins methane-diesel truck trials

Volvo Trucks is to start field tests next month of methane-diesel engines in commercial truck operations with several Swedish road freight customers.

Gunnar Ekwall, product manager for Volvo Trucks in the Nordic region, said the technology offered better environmental properties, energy efficiency, reliability and lower maintenance costs than conventional diesel or gas technology.

As the network of biogas stations continues to expand, the market is showing far greater interest in gas-powered vehicles, he added, including diesel engines running on a mixture of methane gas and diesel oil.

Volvo said the benefits of gas power were combined with a diesel engine’s estimated 35% higher efficiency rating compared with an engine using spark plug ignition, meaning the truck consumes far less energy than conventional gas-powered trucks.

“What is more, the driver can always continue driving on diesel fuel alone, if no gas is available,” said Ekwall.

“This makes it a practical and realistic alternative for many customers, especially in areas where the gas distribution infrastructure is not yet fully established.”

The first seven customers participating in the field test are Borås Energi & Miljö, Ragn-Sells Sollentuna, Schenker-TGM Göteborg, Slaka Potatis Linköping, Svebol Logistics/Lidl Tumba, Viebke Åkeri Helsingborg and XR Miljöhantering Skövde.

The eighth truck in the field test programme will be placed with a selected customer in the next few days.

The trucks involved are two Volvo seven-litre models, the Volvo FL and Volvo FE.