Volvo's international Flex-fuel, Bi-fuel engines
While it seems General Motor's been stomping all over its domestic rival Ford Motor Co. on the biodiesel issue, apparently that's because Blue Oval's just been keeping its alternative fuel cards close to its...er...hood. Volvo, one of Ford's Premier Automotive Group, has developed models that can be equipped to use either the biofuel E85 or bi-fuel, which is a combination of gasoline and methane. Currently, the Volvo S40 and the V50 can run on E85. Both are sold in Sweden where the fuel is more readily accessible. Bi-fuel, on the other hand, can be used by properly equipped models such as the S60 to the V70. Unlike biodiesel, gasoline and methane are held in separate tanks. The engine runs primarily on the latter; gasoline is only used to start the car or if it runs out of methane. Bi-fuel vehicles are only available in Europe.
[Source: DueMotori]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Darcy Fuguet 1:15PM (1/30/2008)
I have owned a Volvo sincew the 1960's, and am in the market for a new car, soon. When I looked up the latest Volvo models, I was dismayed to discover they have make no progress whatsover in fuel efficiency, and have no biofuel or even bifuel models available in the the US. My next car is very likely not to be a Volvo if they don't have a more ecologically responsibel car in the very near future.
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