Личный сайт Романа Самсонова - Volvo trials liquid gas trucks

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Volvo’s truck division is beginning public field testing of its new methane diesel trucks that can run on liquefied methane gas this week. At the same time, Sweden’s first filling station for the gas opens at the manufacturer’s home in Gothenburg. The trials could help the manufacturer develop trucks which use four time less fuel than traditional diesel trucks, boosting miles to the gallon and slashing CO2 emissions from the haulage sector-a major contributor to transport greenhouse gas emissions. Several Volvo trucks are currently being field tested in Sweden, the UK and Thailand. The technology is based on Volvo’s proven Euro-5 diesel engine, which has been converted to run on liquid gas. “Increased use of gas is a bridge towards climate-neutral transports,” comments Lars Mårtensson, Environmental Director at Volvo Trucks. “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 per cent pure biogas and 20 per cent pure biodiesel, carbon emissions will be 80 per cent lower than with conventional diesel technology.” The field test trucks are equipped with special tanks for liquefied methane gas. Liquid gas is the optimum fuel for methane diesel technology. 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 500 to 1000 kms, depending on driving conditions. This is twice the operating range of methane diesel vehicles running on compressed gas and four times that of gas trucks with Otto engines. The field test vehicles are being operated by transport companies DHL, Götene Kyltransporter and Renova. The start of the field tests coincides with the inauguration of Sweden’s first public filling station for liquefied methane gas at Stigs Center in Gothenburg. The station is a collaborative project between Volvo Trucks, FordonsGas Sverige and Göteborg Energi. Filling stations have previously only existed for CNG (compressed natural gas). If methane gas is cooled down to minus 160 °C instead of being compressed, it becomes liquid and its volume is reduced by half. In this case, it is called LNG (liquefied natural gas), or LBG (liquefied biogas) if it is a biogas. Both these gases are also called LMG (liquefied methane gas). “Volvo’s focus on liquid gas opens up a whole new market for us,” says Bo Ramberg, CEO, FordonsGas Sverige AB. “Now it will also be very attractive for heavy vehicles to run on gas, and we expect that market to grow rapidly. To encourage this trend, we want to show that the infrastructure is being developed accordingly.” Three filling stations for liquefied methane gas have been planned in Sweden to date. In addition to the completed one in Gothenburg, Aga will open a filling station in Stockholm and Eon will open one in Malmö.{jcomments on}

Обновлено 01.02.2011 10:44

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