Gas The Way To Do It

The regional and long-haul transport network could be set for a cleaner and more cost-effective future, if Volvo Trucks’ dreams come true. All hail the Swedish manufacturer’s new LNG models

- John Challen

In November 2017, around the same time much of the world was getting swept away with Tesla’s announcement that it was to build a battery-powered semi-truck, Volvo Trucks was detailing the specifics of what could be a more realistic diesel alternative. Always a manufacturer to experiment with alternative fuels, Volvo is looking hopefully at LNG (liquified natural gas) powered vehicles and is starting with FH and FM variants.

There is no doubting electrification of heavy-duty vehicles will come, or is coming: Fuso followed Tesla’s lead with the launch of eCanter – the world’s first series production fully electric truck –the following month (for more on this, see page 26). But let’s not kid ourselves – it’s early days. Even when large US corporations are putting money down and orders in for the all-electric vehicle, production is not planned to start until 2019 at the earliest. As such, it’s unlikely either will make a dent in global diesel truck sales anytime soon.

Electric trucks are certainly on the radar for Volvo and it believes they will play a bigger role in the future ‘for transport operations in urban environments, where range is not as critical’. In the short term, however, it’s an opportunity to look at other alternative fuel options – and for Volvo, that means LNG. Having dabbled with biogas in the past and adding a CNG (compressed natural gas) option to its Euro 6 line-up (debuting last year in FE 4x2 rigid guise), Volvo is no stranger to powering trucks by gas. But its enthusiasm at an event in Spain in November is a statement of its dedication to LNG gas-powered trucks.