Volvo FH and FM are available now with LNG engines

Volvo Trucks is now introducing Euro 6-compliant heavy duty trucks running on liquefied natural gas or biogas. The new trucks have the same performance, driveability and fuel consumption as Volvo’s diesel-powered models. Furthermore, the new trucks’ CO₂ emissions are 20–100 per cent lower compared with diesel, depending on choice of fuel.

Instead of an Otto cycle engine, which is the conventional solution for gas-powered vehicles, the Volvo FH LNG and Volvo FM LNG are powered by gas engines utilising Diesel cycle technology. Volvo's 460 hp gas engine delivers maximum torque of 2300 Nm while the 420 hp version produces 2100 Nm. This is the same as Volvo's corresponding diesel engines. What is more, fuel consumption is on a par with Volvo's diesel engines, but 15 to 25 per cent lower than for conventional gas engines.

The fuel used is natural gas in the form of LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) or biogas, known as bio-LNG. Both fuels consist of methane. If biogas is used, the climate footprint can shrink by as much as 100 per cent and if natural gas is used, the reduction is 20 per cent.

In order to maximise the driving range, the tanks are filled with LNG, which is stored at 4-10 bar pressure at a temperature of -140 to -125 °C. The biggest fuel tank variant contains enough LNG for a range of up to 1000 km. Refuelling takes about the same time as filling up with diesel.