Volvo goes Green over alcohol
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• Swedish truckmaker Volvo predicts that the environmentally friendly truck of the early 21st century will run on alcohol-based fuels.
It has also repeated its call for an urgent improvement in diesel fuel quality, stressing that this would solve many of the emission problems facing engine manufacturers.
In predicting an eventual shift to vehicles powered by ethanol or methanol, the company is not turning its back on diesel technology. "On the contrary, we see no reason to rush to a different fuel in the next 5-10 years," says Anders Joharmesson from Volvo's product planning division, adding that the forthcoming regulations can be met by optimising available engine technology (with fuel of an appropriate quality).
Volvo believes ultimately that alcohols are likely to provide the best compromise for the environment.
In calling for oil companies to take the initiative in improving fuel standards, Volvo points out that a diesel low in sulphur and aromatic hydrocarbons with a cetane number of 50 would contribute to a 10% reduction in nitrogen oxides, 510% less hydrocarbons and 2030% less particulates (the visible smoke which has attracted most attention from public critics of diesels).
As an interesting local initiative, Volvo has obtained limited supplies of such a fuel from BP and intends to use it in 50 vehicles transporting goods to and from its Gothenburg plant.
Volvo understands that the cost penalty for the cleaner fuel will be in the region of 5p a litre (20p/gallon); to produce diesel with less sulphur would add an extra 0.5p a litre (2p/ gallon).
Volvo has introduced its own Green policy by vowing to produce vehicles which are less damaging to the environment in terms of manufacture and operation. This includes the use of more water-based rather than harmful solventbased paints, and a scheme to encourage the recycling of plastics used in vehicles.