Volvo tests liquid gas truck in UK and Sweden

Trials of three liquefied natural gas-powered Volvo trucks have officially begun in Sweden, with testing also underway in the UK.

The trial will see three companies in Sweden each run an FM truck converted to use liquefied methane gas (LMG). However, Roadtransport.com understands at least one test vehicle is already in service with an unnamed operator in the UK, with a further test being conducted in Thailand.

Unlike in the UK, where liquid methane fuel is not publicly available, the trial in Sweden will be supported by the country's first ever LMG filling station. Plans are already afoot to open further stations in Stockholm and Malmö.

The trial vehicles, being run by DHL, Götene Kyltransporter and Renova, have been fitted with special tanks to accommodate the fuel, which will be used in a 75-25 ratio with regular or bio-diesel. Volvo claims that while running on LMG, the 13-litre Euro-5 engine produces up to 80% less CO2 than a diesel engine and has twice the operating range of a vehicle using compressed natural gas.