Volvo Trucks to commercialize natural gas/diesel units for long haul transport

Claes Nilsson, president of Europe Division at Volvo Trucks, stated: “The sales start of our methane-diesel model generates new conditions for the natural gas truck market. By using LNG in an efficient diesel engine, we make it possible to use methane powered trucks in heavier and longer-distance transport operations, making us the first manufacturer in Europe to do so.”

“We are convinced that liquefied natural gas is one of the most important future alternatives to today’s vehicle fuels,” said Lars Mårtensson, director of Environmental Affairs at Volvo Trucks. The Swedish OEM considers the increased implementation of natural gas as a major step towards greater availability and use of biomethane, which could reduce carbon emissions by up 70 percent compared to diesel.

The Volvo FM MethaneDiesel will be initially sold in Europe, starting in the Netherlands, Great Britain and Sweden. Currently, there are plans to manufacture about 100 trucks in 2011 and series production will get under way in August. “We expect sales to take off in 6-8 European countries within the next two years, with about 400 Volvo FM trucks sold a year. Future sales will naturally depend largely on expansion of LNG filling stations for commercial vehicles,” added Nilsson.

Source: Volvo Trucks