Alternative fuels

There is no single source of energy that can replace oil. Instead, we are seeing the development of a wide spectrum of fuel alternatives and drive systems that are each suitable for different purposes. Volvo participates actively in this development process and has chosen to focus primarily on those alternatives that meet the toughest standards concerning both high energy efficiency and low environmental impact, all the way from raw material extraction to consumption – a perspective known as the ‘well-to-wheel’ approach.

Fuels of the future
In 2007 Volvo presented trucks that can be driven on biodiesel, biogas, biogas + biodiesel, DME, ethanol/methanol, synthetic diesel, hydrogen gas + biogas. This was done in order to show that we can build these trucks and also that there is a need for a coordinated effort to switch to alternative fuels.

Volvo Trucks is also the first truck manufacturer to carry out comprehensive customer-based field tests involving Bio-DME fuel.  And also first manufacturer to present a diesel engine that runs on methane gas with some diesel for the ignition.