Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Volvo Unveils 13-Liter Natural Gas Engine for North American Market
http://www.hybridcars.com ^ | Published May 22, 2012 | By Philippe Crowe

Posted on 05/22/2012 1:43:00 PM PDT by Red Badger

Volvo Trucks unveiled last week its plans to launch a 13-liter heavy-duty natural gas engine featuring Westport high pressure direct injection (HPDI) technology. The engine, marketed under the “Blue Power” designation, is scheduled to launch for the North American market in 2014.

The engine’s advanced high pressure diesel ignition technology will provide significant fuel efficiency gains compared with current natural gas products. Combined with the company’s previously announced offering of compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered Volvo VNM and VNL model daycabs, the new engine will provide customers with a complete range of natural gas-powered transportation solutions. Volvo is also testing another fuel that can be produced from natural gas, DME (dimethyl ether), which has the potential to become an attractive alternative for the North American market.

Through advanced high pressure diesel ignition technology – using trace amounts of diesel to ignite the natural gas – Volvo’s LNG engine will deliver a 30-percent fuel efficiency improvement compared with spark-ignition (SI) engines, making it a viable alternative for demanding long-haul applications. The Volvo 13-liter LNG engine will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 20 percent compared with current diesel products.

The engine will accomplish these savings without sacrificing power, torque or fuel efficiency, all of which are critical attributes for on-highway operations. The Volvo Group was the number one supplier of 13-liter heavy-duty engines to the combined U.S. and Canadian market last year, and the same vertically integrated approach that has made Volvo a global powertrain leader is being applied to the development of the new engine. The company’s proprietary Volvo I-Shift automated mechanical transmission also will be available for customers to specify.

North America’s abundant supply of natural gas, and the reduced emissions and minimal aftertreatment CNG engines offer, make the technology an ideal solution for customers operating in localized or closed-loop applications. To meet current demand, Volvo offers the CNG-powered VNM daycab equipped with a factory-installed Cummins ISL G engine.

The company also recently announced that it is operating natural gas-powered VNL demonstrator trucks. The larger, more robust VNL model features a 12-liter Cummins- Westport ISX12 G gas engine. Factory production of the natural gas-powered VNL daycab will begin in conjunction with commercial availability of the 12-liter gas engine in early 2013. These heavy-duty engines feature maintenance-free aftertreatment, requiring only a three-way catalyst to meet EPA 2010 emissions standards.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Technical
KEYWORDS: auto; biodiesel; cng; diesel; energy; engine; lng; naturalgas; sourcetitlenoturl
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-49 next last

Rest In Peace, old friend, your work is finished.....

If you want ON or OFF the DIESEL ”KnOcK” LIST jut FReepmail me.....

This is a fairly HIGH VOLUME ping list on some days.....

1 posted on 05/22/2012 1:43:13 PM PDT by Red Badger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: sully777; vigl; Cagey; Abathar; A. Patriot; B Knotts; getsoutalive; muleskinner; sausageseller; ...

ping!


2 posted on 05/22/2012 1:44:30 PM PDT by Red Badger (Think logically. Act normally.................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger
without sacrificing power, torque

No mention at all about the HP/Torque Ratings.

3 posted on 05/22/2012 1:52:41 PM PDT by twistedwrench
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: twistedwrench

Wel, at least you know they weren’t sacrificed.........


4 posted on 05/22/2012 2:00:32 PM PDT by Red Badger (Think logically. Act normally.................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Howz about ‘allowing’ this engine into the US market since it’s made here already.

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20110406/GREEN/110409933


5 posted on 05/22/2012 2:02:08 PM PDT by wolfcreek (‘closed eye’ mentality is the reason for our current reality)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: twistedwrench

http://www.westport.com/news/2012/westport-announces-new-product-enhancements-on-flagship-hd15l-lng-engine-for-class-8-trucking

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/pdfs/ngvtf10_natural_gas.pdf


6 posted on 05/22/2012 2:03:45 PM PDT by Red Badger (Think logically. Act normally.................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Guess you’ve all heard about GM rolling out bi-fuel (CNG/Gasoline) pickups.


7 posted on 05/22/2012 2:08:07 PM PDT by ngat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ngat

Gotta link?...........


8 posted on 05/22/2012 2:10:32 PM PDT by Red Badger (Think logically. Act normally.................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Nat gas has about half the BTUs as diesel...


9 posted on 05/22/2012 2:17:40 PM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Eric in the Ozarks

But we got lots uvit!.........


10 posted on 05/22/2012 2:20:18 PM PDT by Red Badger (Think logically. Act normally.................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Eric in the Ozarks
Nat gas has about half the BTUs as diesel...

Does that include LNG?

11 posted on 05/22/2012 2:22:20 PM PDT by TangoLimaSierra (To the left the truth looks like Right-Wing extremism.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: wolfcreek

Nice car, but at $5,000 to 10,000 more cost than an equivalent Jetta diesel, is it worth it?

The $35,000 price noted at the link puts the car in the same range as an Audi A3 tdi, and well above several hybrids, as well.

Just sayin...but it would be great for Ford to introduce diesel to their passenger vehicle line.


12 posted on 05/22/2012 2:23:44 PM PDT by truth_seeker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

LOL!

550HP/1850Tq, not bad for a 15L.
Pretty fancy pilot injectors though.


13 posted on 05/22/2012 2:29:06 PM PDT by twistedwrench
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger
The engine will accomplish these savings without sacrificing power, torque or fuel efficiency

Okay, how about range and practicality (e.g. how many truck stops have CNG)?

14 posted on 05/22/2012 2:30:30 PM PDT by newgeezer (It is [the people's] right and duty to be at all times armed. --Thomas Jefferson)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Eric in the Ozarks

1 gallon of diesel fuel has the same BTU value as 139 cubic feet of gas.


15 posted on 05/22/2012 2:38:13 PM PDT by twistedwrench
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Drill Baby Drill !!


16 posted on 05/22/2012 2:41:26 PM PDT by TexasCajun
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Here’s a link to a story about it from Oct. 2011, but I heard this latest info from American Farm Bureau Federation:

“The Silverado HD and Sierra 2500HD will have a range of over 650 miles, will be available in standard box and long-box, 2 and 4WD in extended cab models, Vortec 6.0L V8, seamless transition between fuels, single lightweight Type 3 CNG tank in truckbed.

http://fleetowner.com/equipment/news/gm-cng-bifuel-comm-pickup-1004


17 posted on 05/22/2012 2:44:35 PM PDT by ngat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

13 Liter? Please check my math but can that possibly be 780 cu in?


18 posted on 05/22/2012 2:45:12 PM PDT by muir_redwoods (I like Obamacare because Granny signed the will and I need the cash)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: twistedwrench; Eric in the Ozarks
1 gallon of diesel fuel has the same BTU value as 139 cubic feet of gas.

HOW MUCH IZZAT IN BEAN BURRITOS?.........

19 posted on 05/22/2012 2:48:32 PM PDT by Red Badger (Think logically. Act normally.................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: muir_redwoods

Yes, it’s for big trucks........and this is a small one.........They also make a 15 Liter of the same type............


20 posted on 05/22/2012 2:50:38 PM PDT by Red Badger (Think logically. Act normally.................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-49 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson