That’s the view of Volvo Trucks, which says that while LNG is used primarily in industrial operations currently, it could be an ideal solution – and the manufacturer is intensifying its development of gas-powered trucks accordingly.
In May, the EU decided that CO2 figures from heavy vehicles should be declared as of 2019.
“This regulation will drive the development of lower emissions, where we see a clear possibility for increasing LNG market shares as a vital part of the solution,” says Lars Mårtensson, director of environment and innovation at Volvo Trucks.
While natural gas is a fossil fuel, it can produce 20% lower CO2 emissions than diesel, he points out. If biogas is used instead, emissions can be cut by up to 100%.
By using methane in liquid form, it is possible to carry larger quantities of fuel to ensure the necessary operating range for long-haul assignments. Both natural gas and biogas consist largely of methane, which is a potent greenhouse gas. This makes it particularly important to minimise the risk of gas leakage during transport, refuelling and operation of the vehicle.
Production of biogas is limited currently, but the long-term availability of natural gas is “excellent in a global perspective”, says Volvo.. This is an important condition for large-scale expansion, as is a competitive price – in many European countries, natural gas costs less than diesel.
A strategy for expanding LNG infrastructure is also included in the European Commission’s and member states’ action packages for securing Europe’s long-term energy supply.
“What is needed now is gas-powered trucks that can compete with diesel in terms of performance and fuel consumption, and continued expansion of LNG infrastructure. In both cases major progress has been achieved,” adds Mårtensson.