Volvo concept can run on five fuels

Volvo unveiled their Multi-Fuel concept at the recent Michelin Challenge Bibendum. The remarkable concept can run on five on five different fuel types: hythane (90% methane, 10% hydrogen), biomethane, natural gas, bioethanol E85 and normal gasoline. The five-cylinder, 200-horsepower vehicle has two fuel fillers for all five fuel types, one for gaseous and one for liquid fuels. The engine automatically adjusts itself to the right blend of gaseous or liquid fuels. To switch between fuel types, the driver simply presses a button.

The car contains one large and two smaller tanks of 25.8-gallons for gaseous fuels (hythane, biomethane and CNG), and one 7.6-gallon tank for liquid fuels (bioethanol E85 and gasoline). The small gaseous fuel tanks are made of steel, whereas the large tank has a durable, gas tight aluminium liner, reinforced with high performance carbon fiber composite and an exterior layer of hardened fiber-glass composite.

The concept is not intended for production, but shows Volvo’s thinking when it comes to comes to using fuels that are produced locally.